Rickie Fowler was staring at a victory.

Sunday at the Truist Championship, he was standing in the fairway, 202 yards from the hole on Quail Hollow’s par-4 18th—where he earned his maiden PGA Tour win 14 years ago and became a golf sensation—with a one-stroke lead.

What happened next was not how Fowler drew it up.

The 37-year-old’s approach shot fell in the left rough, although it stayed dry. Now, he needed to get up-and-down for par from 49 feet. He chipped to 9 feet, but missed his par attempt. Bogey.

Despite a final-round 65, that dropped him into a tie for the lead with several groups behind him left to complete their rounds. Ultimately, Tour rookie Kristoffer Reitan prevailed .

It wasn’t a win, but for Fowler it was another positive step.

“Obviously now, bummed not to be in a position to at least maybe to be in a playoff or having a chance to win,” Fowler said afterward.…