Round 3: AT&T National
July 2 2011
6:30 pm
Fowler hopes to learn from experience
By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM
NETOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Is the third time the charm? Rickie Fowler hopes so.
The 22-year-old led going into the final round of last year’s Memorial tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance and was in contention late in the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He didn’t win in either case.
After a 6-under 64 Saturday at the AT&T National, Fowler is tied for the lead at 9 under as he tries to win for the first time.
“I think the biggest thing is just go out and be patient, not get ahead of myself and not get too excited or anxious,” Fowler said when asked what he’d learned from his past experiences of being in contention.
Judging by the way Aronimink played Saturday, Fowler will have to also be aggressive. The course record was broken twice during the third round and with an early start time Sunday due to weather, it’s likely conditions will be soft in the final round.
Fowler was certainly aggressive on Saturday when he saw plenty of low scores were popping up. He then went out and birdied three of his first four holes. He finished with eight in all and just one bogey.
”My game has been feeling good all week, so went out and started off well, hit some good shots and kept moving from there,” Fowler said. “I saw some guys were playing well and making some birdies, so I knew it was going to be possible to take it low today.”
While Fowler has been in contention before, this is also the 52nd start of his career — a career that’s been filled with expectation that he would win by now.
And while he came close twice in his rookie campaign, he hasn’t been as much of a factor this year.
“It has been a little frustrating,” Fowler said. “I haven’t driven it as well as I did last year, which has held me back from hitting as many greens and having as many opportunities to make birdie.”
Fowler has only hit 60 percent of his fairways this week, but he’s managed to hit the green 76 percent of the time and that’s set up plenty of chances to go low.
“I’ve had some chances to go into the weekend and have good finishes, and unfortunately I’ve missed out on some good finishes,” Fowler said. “So I’m looking forward to starting to change that.”
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Gee, wonders never cease … Okie boy has a real shot at bagging his first tournament. Wanna bet he blows it in the 4th round?
Rickie has got the talent and focus to finish the tournament with a win!
Rickie is from CA. He has a lot of birdies left for tomorrow. He will shoot a 66. Depends what Whatney does though. But my money is on Fowler.
HEY RICKIE YOU DONT HAVE TO DRIVE IT WELL HERE ,AS A MATTER OF FACT I THINK IF THERE WORRIED ABOUT THE WEATHER SO MUCH, THEY SHOULD SHORTEN THE EVENT TO,A ”CHIP AND PUTT COMPETITION ” SIMILAR TO TO-DAY.
I cant see Rickie winning although I wish
him the best.
Webb Simpson looks the winner to me.
Rickie is a bit of a choker. I can’t see him winning this either. I hope he does though….I like seeing young players winning.
Flower said, “I think the biggest thing is just go out and be patient, not get ahead of myself and not get too excited or anxious.”
Flower is thinking right, but of course the problem here is that not everything that will happen today is totally in his hands.
I would like to see Mr. Flower play to a 66, or better Today, but that doesn’t mean that that will be enough to win.
Flower is now in the process of learning all about the ropes on tour and here’s wishing him the best, along with the rest of the fellows.
One thing’s for sure, and that is he is the most Colorful Player on the Tour Today.
n watney wins
I.M 56 YEARS OLD, LONG TIME OKLAHOMA STATE SPORTS FAN. HAVING INDEPENDENCE DAY TODAY WITH MY 78 YEAR OLD MOTHER (OKLAHOMA A&M GRAD 1954)WE WILL BE GLUED TO THE TV WEARING OUR OSU ORANGE WATCHING RICKY AND CHARLES HOWELL III.HOPE RICKY CAN AVOID THAT 74 HE THROWS IN THERE ABOUT EVERY TOURNEY. GO COWBOY GOLFERS. P.S. BOB TWAY IS ALSO IN CONTENTION IN CHAMPION EVENTS.
if, media stay away from ricky, then he will win very soon. let him play with less media support light. to be honest, rory is better than ricky. don’t try to make rivalry up when the fact is right there, it gives more pressure to ricky. it’s little too much for him. what?,he can handle that pressures? comon, if he did it. then he already won few. like rory.he’s gonna be great player soon or later, if he play with less media. ricky^^ enjoy what you doing. enjoy pressure. just do your best it will come to you very soon. don’t think about win or not. it’s not help you. good luck.
…a choking little dog!
Cut the hair,
get some decent clothes,
and do it the right way!
So what did I tell you? I agree with USOpen. Maybe if the Puma Poster Boy would focus more on perfecting his game and less on making lame videos with other players to reduce golf to a White trash level, he might be a contender.