LOS ANGELES — Rickie Fowler missed a short putt of 4 feet, 9 inches at 18 to drop back into a tie for the 54-hole lead with Wyndham Clark at the 123rd U.S. Open. NBC’s Paul Azinger wondered if it would be the type of putt that would haunt Fowler.
“That hurts because you have to sleep on that one all night,” Azinger said. “You hate to finish like that. When a golfer has nightmares, it’s usually about a putt of that length.”
But speaking after the round, Fowler took it all in stride.
“I hit a good putt,” he said. “Just a bummer. It would be nice for that one to go in. Really doesn’t matter, having the lead, being one back, two back. You’re going to have to play good golf tomorrow.”
Fowler has played well for three days as he tries to end a four-year winless drought on the PGA Tour and claim that elusive first major championship. Fowler, who opened with a U.S. Open record 62 and shot 68 on Friday, posted an even-par 70 in the third round and a 54-hole aggregate of 10-under 210.
His putter was solid for most of the day. He canned a 25-foot birdie at No. 7 and drained a 69-foot putt from just off the green at 13 to lead Clark by two strokes.
From 69 feet away
@RickieFowler rolls in a lengthy birdie at No. 13. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/75FCIgUNjf
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 18, 2023
Fowler earned a spot in the final pairing of a major for the third time in his career. He was paired with Martin Kaymer at the 2014 U.S. Open (finished T-2) and paired with Rory McIlroy at the 2014 British Open (finished T-2 too).
“This is the best I’ve felt, let alone in a normal tournament but especially a major, and I would say really ever in my career,” Fowler said.
This is the 10th time Fowler has held 54-hole lead or co-lead, but he’s converted just two of the previous nine into victory.
Fowler said he’s not scared to fail.
“I’ve dealt with that,” he said. “We’re just going to go have fun, continue to try to execute, leave it all out there, see where we stand on 18.”
And Fowler, who hasn’t won since the 2019 WM Phoenix Open, is embracing the opportunity to claim that first major that has long been expected of him but in the last few years seemed as if he might never achieve.
“Through three rounds we’re in the spot that we want to be in, and tomorrow is when the tournament starts,” Fowler said.