NORTON — Rickie Fowler captured a one-stroke victory over Henrik Stenson at the 2015 Deutsche Bank Championship, finally solving TPC Boston after years of struggling on the course.
Now the world’s seventh-ranked playerwill return to Norton at the end of the month to vie for a second Deutsche Bank title.
“It’s a golf course I like,’’ Fowler said Monday at the tournament’s media day. “I just never really understood how the guys played so well on it, then finally figured it out a little bit last year.I’m definitely looking forward to getting back here. It’s always a fun crowd to play in front of. Usually we get good weather here, and hopefully that’s the case this year. It’ll be nice being back as the defending champion.’’
This year’s event, scheduled for Sept. 2-5, also has received early commitments from Stenson, Jason Day, Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Zach Johnson, and Adam Scott.
“This will be arguably the best field ever here at the Deutsche Bank Labor Day weekend 2016,’’ tournament director Mike Antolini said.
Before Fowler hits the links at TPC Boston, though, he will head to Rio de Janeiro to compete in the first Olympics to include golf since the 1904 St. Louis Games.
“I’ve always grown up watching the Olympics, thought about how cool it would be to walk in opening ceremonies, to compete as an athlete, which I didn’t have a chance at doing any of that,’’ Fowler said.
“I wasn’t going to run fast enough, wasn’t going to jump high enough or anything like that, so thankfully I got the opportunity through golf.
“I’m looking forward to not just the Opening Ceremonies but getting to see some of the other athletes that are down there, seeing greatness happen in front of me.’’
Fowler, 27, will be joined on the US golf team by Watson, Matt Kuchar, and Patrick Reed. Many of the world’s best golfers opted to skip the Games because of safety concerns.
“Definitely had to do my homework, and I respect all the decisions that were made whether to go or not to go,’’ Fowler said. “It was something I definitely wanted to be a part of, I didn’t want to miss out on, but I also didn’t want to put myself at too high of a risk.’’
Architect Gil Hanse designed both TPC Boston and the Olympic course in Rio, so Fowler hopes his Deutsche Bank experience will help him in his pursuit of a gold medal.
“I haven’t seen much of the course down there, other than a few kind of overview pictures of the land and what the course looks like,’’ Fowler said. “I’ve heard good things. It has a good look to it. Looking forward to getting down there.
“Finally figured out how to play [TPC Boston], so that bodes well for Rio.’’
