Rickie Fowler showcased his electric opening round during the 123rd U.S. Open, where he impressed with an ensemble of neon-orange attire.
Unfortunately, that also included another painful fade from title contention after he took a share of the lead into the last round.
Fowler struggled to a score of 75 on Sunday at Los Angeles Country Club, ultimately finishing in a three-way tie for fifth place. Fowler concluded the tournament five shots behind the leader, with the least impressive final round out of the top 19 competitors, alongside the eventual winner, Wyndham Clark.
After sincerely congratulating his Sunday golf companion, Fowler’s week had a noteworthy positive aspect, and the experienced golfer decided to concentrate on that, without a doubt.
Fowler expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I felt incredibly at ease throughout this week, occupying this role, especially considering the past few years.” He added, “Although we are progressing and making strides, we find ourselves in a less desirable position than I had hoped for after today, which is quite disappointing. Nevertheless, there are numerous positive aspects to be drawn from this week, although the final outcome is not what I desired.”
Fowler capped his comeback from several disappointing years of play with his best result at a major since finishing as the runner-up at the 2018 Masters, setting a U.S. Open record with 23 birdies over four rounds at LACC. Indeed, he showcased phenomenal golf playing for long stretches.
Fowler, a native of Southern California, has played in the final group three times in major tournaments but has yet to claim a trophy. However, Fowler knows that Sunday’s match against the untested Clark is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After taking at least a share of the lead in each of the three final rounds, he is determined not to let this opportunity slip away.
Fowler exclaimed, “Today I didn’t have just putts, I was below average and my iron play wasn’t very good. I managed to keep it fairly stress-free and made some crucial putts, especially on Sunday in the majors. That’s a big thing. I was fighting through it all day. It was a different kind of challenge.”
Despite being within reach, he maintained composure and persevered with an even-par 70, while Clark recorded his lowest score of the tournament on Sunday.
The superstar never made the move many expected, shooting even par with no birdies on his final 17 holes, runner-up Rory McIlroy.
His golf club for short distances, his skill in close-range shots, his golf clubs for mid-range shots, his golf club for long distances, everything let him down at various points. During the second half of the game, he had four additional scores above par, and in the initial seven holes, Fowler had three scores above par.
On the 15th, he narrowly missed a 24th birdie by a small margin, guiding his putt slightly to the right of the hole. However, he still surpassed Brendan Steele’s record for birdies in the 2017 U.S. Open with his 23rd of the week on the 14th. This was achieved after his drive on the 12th landed in a depression in the rough, and he was unable to sink a challenging 12-foot putt. Consequently, Fowler’s score dropped back to 6 under par.
Fowler expressed, “It is challenging to conclude a significant tournament. However, simultaneously, the outcome remains uncertain. No, I was aware that I was not in a favorable position. I believed that this circumstance could potentially provide me with an opportunity to achieve a two-shot change and potentially make a strong effort in the final three holes, provided I could successfully make that putt on the fifteenth hole, which I came close to doing.”
Clark finished with a final bogey on the 18th, hitting his approach shot into the rough just off the green before leaving a 14-foot putt short while waiting to celebrate in the large gallery.
Fowler was gracious in Clark’s big moment, hugging his partner and telling late mother Clark that he would still have a chance to celebrate with friends and family at the legion galleries in LACC.
Following his rounds, Fowler garnered numerous acquaintances in Los Angeles by extending his stay to autograph memorabilia. Furthermore, he is now a proud father, which has provided him with a enhanced outlook on the sport; however, his performance has yet to fully recover. Fowler’s sole victory, since the beginning of 2017, took place at the 2019 Phoenix Open, and he has yet to secure a major championship.
In the upcoming week in Connecticut, he will be participating in the Travelers Championship due to his consistent performance with three consecutive placements in the top 10, along with an impressive record of nine top-15 finishes in his last 12 tournaments, beginning with Torrey Pines in January. This player, who was previously regarded as the potential of the sport, serves as yet another indication of the sport’s rejuvenation for The Open.
Fowler stated, “I definitely think we’re heading in the right direction.” “It’s been nice to be back and have chances in tournaments or at least solid finishes.” “We had a lot of good stuff this week.”