Record-breaking Fowler takes Hero glory as Tiger completes comeback

So what happened at the Hero World Challenge?

Rickie Fowler happened.

The 28-year-old began the day seven shots back from overnight leader Charley Hoffman, by the time he was finishing up on the 7th hole he was tied for the lead – it was a signal of things to come.

Fowler raced out of the gates with seven straight birdies on his way to carding a remarkable front nine of 28 with a par and another birdie to close out.

As Fowler charged Hoffman, his nearest challenger, failed to live with the pace being set as he reached the turn in a level par 36 with two birdies and two bogeys etched onto his card.

Two more birdies saw Fowler placed firmly on 59 watch as he reached the 14th tee with a new course record (63) and going lower than he ever had before (62) firmly in his sights.

Course record ✅
Tournament record ✅
Personal best ✅@RickieFowler completes a remarkable final-round 61.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/Rlude6FYo7

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

Another birdie followed on the 15th but the 2016 Players champion couldn’t quite keep his momentum going as he parred home to sign for a personal best 61 and take the tournament by four shots ahead of Hoffman.

Englishman Tommy Fleetwood continued his strong 2017 with a T3rd finish alongside Open champion Jordan Spieth at 12-under. 2016 Hero winner Hideki Matsuyama put up a strong defence as he finish in a tie for fifth with Patrick Reed and Justin Rose at 11-under with Franceso Molinari eighth all on his own at 10-under.

The returning Tiger Woods showed signs of rust finishing up his comeback with two bogeys in a row but overall it was a strong week for the 41-year-old who made his competitive return to finish up ninth alongside Matt Kuchar at 8-under.

Talking points

Is there anything else to talk about?

69-68-75-68 was a solid return from Tiger Woods as he began his second comeback to competitive golf in the Bahamas. There were fist pumps, club twirls, chip ins and, perhaps most importantly, there was no visible back pain as he finished 8-under for the tournament.

With ball speeds of up to 180mph from the tee box he answered his critics following fused back surgery earlier in the year and after a solid four days the 14-time major champion even admitted he would start looking at a full 2018 schedule.

A solid day for Tiger. pic.twitter.com/5ZmEIOA5Ci

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

“I want to play enough but not too much,” Woods said.

“We’ll sit down and figure out the best way for me to plan for the major championships. It’s a conversation I need to have with my team.”

Raise your hand if you’re excited for some 2018 Tiger action!

Best shots

WHAT. A. DAY.@RickieFowler beats the world's best to win the Hero World Challenge. pic.twitter.com/iemJ7vIEIc

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

In the zone.@RickieFowler birdies the par-5 15th.

He needs 2 birdies on his last 3 holes for 59. pic.twitter.com/7C4dlXvaFv

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

69-68-75-68@TigerWoods completes his return to competitive golf with a final-round 68.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/iykPD2f6LK

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

Fist pump before the birdie?

That's three in a row for @JustinRose99.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/jwaHBXgtNI

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

Here's every birdie from @RickieFowler's front nine.

WARNING: There's 8 of them. pic.twitter.com/aaD6SOhJ9q

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

This is getting ridiculous!

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?#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/k6U5COfGYl

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

.@RickieFowler is on ???.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/VvnP2UWfbB

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

Tiger for eagle … ?#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/FvZlLTh3jV

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

Just a 2-iron that carried 265 yards.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/3PhWvqnQJF

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

The club twirl foreshadowed it all. What a start for defending champion Hideki Matsuyama!#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/QKU6rnyXEL

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

He's walking in birdies. pic.twitter.com/dyciCP80qh

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) December 3, 2017

Best tweets

Congrats to that dude @RickieFowler on a decent Sunday as well. Nice way to end 2017! #61 #W

— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) December 3, 2017

Hey @TigerWoods will you be my partner at @Zurich_Classic this year?? Great see you back playing!#LoveYouTiger

— bubba watson (@bubbawatson) December 3, 2017

@TigerWoods is swinging with so much freedom and conviction, great to see him back! Congrats to @TWFoundation on a fun and exciting week for golf fans!

— Hunter Mahan (@HunterMahan) December 3, 2017

Tough start @RickieFowler, keep your head up

— Wesley Bryan (@wesleybryangolf) December 3, 2017

???????? pic.twitter.com/aZWSetz8tG

— Smylie Kaufman (@SmylieKaufman10) December 3, 2017

Finishing @SkySportsGolf with a tiger montage and take that ‘back for good’… .. I’m done. ?????????

— Chris Wood (@Chris3Wood) December 3, 2017

How many days before @TheMasters??? ???

— Edoardo Molinari (@DodoMolinari) December 3, 2017

Best stats

It's just one week, and an unofficial event, but consider this: Tiger beat the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year (Thomas) by 1, the World No. 1 (DJ) by 8, and the reigning U.S. Open champ – who won by 9 in his previous start (Koepka) – by 11.

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) December 3, 2017