Flawless Fowler builds one-shot lead at Barclays
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Rickie Fowler is playing so well that he can’t stop looking behind instead of considering the opportunity that lies ahead at The Barclays.
His wedge to five feet for a birdie on the 18th hole Saturday not only gave him a 3-under 68 and a oneshot lead over Patrick Reed, it was his 45th consecutive hole without a bogey at Bethpage Black, one of the strongest golf courses of the year.
In three rounds, he has made only one bogey.
That was on the ninth hole Thursday, a four-foot putt that spun hard around the cup back at him. And yes, it still gnaws at him.
“Unfortunately, that one bogey ... it was more than a 180-degree lip-out,” he said with a smile. “So it was basically like going 54 holes, no bogeys. Around this place, I’m happy about that.”
The timing could not be better for Fowler.
He is in solid position to win for the first time on the PGA Tour in a year and to play his way onto the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
This is the final tournament for Americans to earn one of the eight automatic spots for Ryder Cup matches at the end of next month. Fowler was at No. 12 going into the opening FedEx Cup event and needed at least a third-place finish to earn a spot.
Reed overcame three bogeys in a four-hole stretch on the front nine and was tied for the lead on the back nine until the final two holes. He still managed a 71.
Right behind was Adam Scott, who also saw his share of putts go in, especially a 45-foot birdie on the 15th hole. Scott was two shots behind at 7-under 206.
Martin Laird (69) and Emiliano Grillo (71) were three shots back, while defending champion Jason Day (70) and Justin Thomas (66) were in the group four shots back.
Abbotsford’s Adam Hadwin was the top Canadian at 1 under, while David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., was 1 over and Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., at 8 over.