LOS ANGELES — Rickie Fowler brought buzz to the US Open with a 70-foot birdie putt to lose the lead after missing a 3-foot putt on the final hole on Saturday, giving him a share of the lead with Windham Clark. Sunday is full of possibilities.
Rory McIlroy was there with them. He played a consistent – one birdie and one bogey on his last 14 holes on a course that was finally beginning to play like the US Open. McIlroy had a 69 that left him one shot behind, poised to end nine long years without a major.
“It’s good to be on the hunt,” McIlroy said.
Fowler had to settle for an even 70. Clark escaped major trouble from Barranca by hitting a 6-foot putt in the 17th to stay close, then boldly took a tight left pin in the 18th for a 6-foot birdie for 69 that allowed him to catch Fowler.
The final hour brought surprise at every turn. A long day of scorching sun at Los Angeles Country Club’s North Course has given way to the infamous Navy that brought a few jerseys late in the day.
Scotty Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player, never looked to be in the mix until he finished his par 68 by drilling a 7-iron from 196 yards on the 17th hole and making a 20-foot putt with a birdie. him in the penultimate set with McIlroy.
For many, it didn’t take much to lose ground.
Xander Schauffele started his round by taking 3 shots out of a fairway bunker, making three bogeys in five holes, only to get all-in before finally losing ground with a series of bad drives. It was at 73, 5 bullets in the back.
Harris English kept up with the leaders until he missed short putts, a big drive, and ended the day with a deep collar shot around the 18th green that didn’t move the ball. His fourth bogey of the back nine gave him a 71, leaving 4 shots behind.
The last hour salvaged the once-old-fashioned atmosphere of Los Angeles brilliance, where everyone played a part. Among the 5 players within 5 shots of the lead were three major champions who were No. 1 in the world – McIlroy, Scheffler and Dustin Johnson (71).
This is the third time Fowler has been in the final set at a major – and the first time he has no one in front of him, and was so close to being the one chasing him.
“Just a bummer,” Fowler said of his shortstop. “It’d be nice if that one got in.” “It doesn’t really matter – being in front, being in front, being 2 in the back, being 2 in the back – you have to play good golf tomorrow.”
While this is the third time Fowler has played in the final set of a major, this is the third time Clark has played in the final round of a major. He’s been on the rise this year, winning at Quail Hollow last month his first win on the PGA Tour.
He didn’t land a shot until the 11th hole, and then Clark started to fall behind. He appeared to be in major trouble on the 17th when his approach from the right to the Branca was upset. Wisely dropping a punt instead of going for the hero’s play, Clark rose to 6 feet and escaped with bogey and 2 deficit shots.
Then came the two-piece hammock.
McIlroy had a chance to end his major drought last summer at St Andrews when he shared the lead at the final round at St Andrews, only for Cameron Smith to pass him. He’s been in pole position twice in the past two weeks, at the Memorial and Canadian Open, only to fall one last round behind.
The stakes are huge this time around, on this platform. And he has the experience, though he wasn’t sure of that.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve done that,” said McIlroy, who last majored at the PGA Championship in 2014. The past three days, I’ve executed this game plan really, really well. And I just need to do it for one more day.”
Scheffler is suddenly in the lineup, all because of one great shot and one big shot. It’s been a model of consistency this year, even in the majors — a tie for 10th at the Masters, and second at the PGA Championship.
“I’m standing there on 17 putts, and I come across another bogey, and I think I was probably a 4-under for the championship and I’m looking at the board and I’m returning 7 shots and I think maybe I can steal one shot coming in,” Scheffler said.
He stole three and is now in good range.
Fowler and Clark were par 10-under 200, one shot from the 54-hole record for the US Open set by Congressman McIlroy in 2011.
The sun-blocking navy layer had kept the LACC’s greens receptive and scoring ridiculous, at least by US Open standards. The sunlight made him a stronger test, perhaps providing a preview of what was to come.
The results do not indicate that this is the toughest test in golf. Players chasing the Silver Cup will probably feel like it’s a road ahead for them – Fowler and Clarke are in the first race, and McIlroy is hoping for a win that will distract from what has been holding him back from the other.