Fowler fine-tunes for US Open

MEMPHIS: World No 8 Rickie Fowler hopes to use this week’s St. Jude Classic to fine-tune his game heading into the US Open.

While most of the competitors in the year’s second major in Wisconsin are taking this week off to hone their swings at home, Fowler is among 32 players in the St. Jude field who have qualified to play in Erin Hills next week.

“I like playing the week before majors,” the popular American told reporters at TPC Southwind on Wednesday.

“It allows me to see where the game’s at, what I need to work on, what needs to be tightened up.”

Fowler is coming off a nearmiss at the Memorial tournament on Sunday, where he stood in the final fairway thinking a birdie would probably be good enough to get into a playoff with eventual winner Jason Dufner.

But he pulled his approach shot into thick rough for a closing bogey and instead finished tied for second.

It was yet another close call for the ever-polite Fowler, 28, who has four PGA Tour victories to go with 10 second-placings.

He also has won twice on the European Tour and once in Europe.

Fowler said he had not played to his full potential at the Memorial, and took solace from being in contention without his best stuff.

Joining Fowler in a pretty good field this week are Australian former world number one Adam Scott and defending champion Daniel Berger.

Five-times major winner Phil Mickelson is also playing, before skipping the US Open to attend his daughter’s high school graduation, barring a last-minute switch in the schedule for the ceremony. Reuters