In front at Honda Classic
Rickie Fowler leads by four going into final day today.
PALM BEACH GARDENS Rickie Fowler set a goal for himself on Friday, and he went a long way to achieving it Saturday at the Honda Classic.
The Jupiter resident, who was one shot out of the lead after two rounds, said he liked where his game was heading and he wanted to do a better job of finishing off tournaments when he’s in contention.
So far, so good, after Fowler shot abogey-free 5-under-par 65 to take a four-shot lead heading into the final round today.
“It was nice to scramble as well as I did when I needed to and save some good pars,” said Fowler, who shot a pair of 66s the first two days and was at 13-under 197 for the tournament. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Tyrrell Hatton of England shot a 66 to go with rounds of 68 and 67 to move into second place at 9-under 201. He and Fowler, who played one round together at the British Open last summer, tee off in the final twosome at 1:45 p.m.
“I’m really happy with the position I’m in,” said Hatton, 25, who is playing on a sponsor’s exemption.
“At the start of the week I didn’t feel very comfortable withmy game.
“It felt like I had never swung a golf club before. If you’d seen me hit balls on the range this week, you probably wouldn’t believe where I am in the tournament.”
Second-round co-leader Wesley Bryan of Augusta, Ga., was tied for third at 7-under 203 after starting the day at 9 under. He shot a 72 that included a watery double-bogey 5 at the 15th hole.
Also at 203 were Emiliano Grillo of Argentina and Sean O’Hair of Chadds Ford, Pa., who both shot 65; Gary Woodland (66) of Topeka, Kan.; and Martin Kaymer (68) of Germany.
The other second-round co-leader, Ryan Palmer of Colleyville, Texas, struggled with his driver and his putter and shot a 73 to fall into a 12-way tie for eighth at 6-over 204. Palmer, who shot 66-65 Thursday and Friday, hit only five of 14 fairways and had 33 putts Saturday.
Fowler had shot 66-66 last year for a one-shot lead, but fell back with a 74 in the third round. A 71 on Sunday left him tied for sixth.
This year, Fowler, 28, was able to hang in there even though he said his ballstriking Saturday “was the worst of the three days.”
“I was able to score well and manage it well and scramble well early on to keep the momentum going,” he said.
Things changed when he arrived on the tee of the 476-yard par-4 sixth hole, which has water all along the left side.
“One swing that stands out to me was the drive on No. 6,” he said. “It’s one of the hardest holes out here. Water left, and today the wind was down off the left, so I started one up the left [side]. Hit a perfect little cut back in the fairway.
“One swing that stands out to me was the drive on No. 6. It’s one of the hardest holes out here. ... Hit a perfect little cut back in the fairway. Rickie Fowler
“So from there on out, I felt like it kind of easedmea little bit, and I was able to start swinging a bit better and drove itwell from there on in, other than10.”
At the 10th, a 499-yard par4, Fowler hit his drive 311 yards but way left in the rough.
He hit his approach over the green, 90 feet from the pin, but got up and down, sinking a par putt of just under 4 feet.
“I made a few putts from 3 or 4 feet,” he said. “Those are the ones you’re supposed to make, but it’s nice whenyouactually still get to see them go in.
“There’s a lot of tricky shots around this golf course, and if you’re not in the fairway, thengoodluck.”
Hatton had two bogeys and six birdies, including three in a row on the back nine on putts of 14, 26 and14 feet, to get to 10 under. He bogeyed the par-3 17th whenhe failed to get up and down from over the green.
“I gavemyself quite a few opportunities,” Hatton said. “Then the putter got hot on the back nine, and I holed a couple of nice putts. So I’m pretty happy with that, and hopefully I can have a good day tomorrow.”