Rickie Fowler kept hold of the lead Saturday, heading into the final day of the U.S. Open – but only a share of it, this time with Wyndham Clark.
Clark drew even with Fowler after the third round of the tournament at the Los Angeles Country Club. Both hold a one-stroke advantage over Rory McIllroy, and lead Scottie Scheffler, who surged into fourth place, by three strokes.
San Diego State alum Xander Schauffele, who sat atop the leaderboard Thursday with Fowler, slipped to sixth, in a tie with Dustin Johnson, five strokes back.
Scheffler, No. 1 in the World Golf Ranking, shot a 2-under 68, marked by his performance on the final two holes, where he closed the day with an eagle and a birdle.
“Definitely a huge momentum boost going into tomorrow and hopefully I’ll just keep it rolling, Scheffler said.
Clark and McIlroy each posted a 1-under 69. Fowler, 34, who hails from Murrieta, had an even-par 70, thanks to a bogey on the 18th hole.
“I’m not scared to fail. I’ve dealt with that,” Fowler said. “We’re just going to go have fun, continue to try to execute, leave it all out there, see where we stand on.”
Schauffele had a 3-over 73 on the day.
“Just going to have to do something special,” he said of what has to happen in the final round, “and going to need some help from up top probably.”
Also in the running was Harris English at four strokes back. Sam Bennett, tied with Scheffler after the second round, fell out of contention with a 9-over 79.
It’s been a tournament that has seen its share of records and firsts.
Saturday’s play included a challenge on the the 15th hole – at 81 yards, it broke the record for the shortest hole at a U.S Open. The next closest? The 92-yard 7th hole on the final day of the 2010 Open at Pebble Beach.
Fowler and Schauffele both shot 8-under par 62 Thursday, the lowest scores in U.S. Open history.
Fowler’s two-day score of 130 tied Martin Kaymer’s performance at Pinehurst in 2014 for the fewest strokes through two days of a U.S. Open.
“Having a lead right now doesn’t really mean much,” Fowler said Friday. “A little different once you get to after 54 holes because that’s when things really heat up.”
Thursday’s scoring average was 71.38; in Friday’s second round, the scoring average was 72.22, with 33 players under par.
This is the first U.S. Open to be played in Los Angeles since 1948.
– Staff and wire reports
