World number nine Rickie Fowler is focusing on finding fairways on Sunday as he looks to chase down Brian Harman to claim the US Open at Erin Hills.
A seventh first-time Major winner is expected on Sunday, with only Sergio Garcia and Louis Oosthuizen capable of ending that streak, but both eight off the lead set by two-PGA Tour winner Harman.
Fowler is ready to take aim on Sunday as the highest-ranked player in the running.
‘It’s going to be a really cool day for someone tomorrow,’ Fowler told reporters shortly after his third round 68 put him two off the lead.
‘I’m looking forward to my shot at it, and I know it’s going to be — it’s not going to be an easy day, for sure. I’ve been there a handful of times and had some good finishes. But I’m looking forward to getting the job done.
‘But looking and seeing the leaderboard, a lot of young guys, lot of great players. Someone has a very good chance of ending up with their first major tomorrow.’
‘The big thing is going to be just driving it well tomorrow,’ said Fowler, who closed with a par on the 18th after finding the fescue off the tee.
‘I needed to hit a lot of fairways, and if I do that, I’m going to play well.’
Having challenged on a number of occasions, he finished in the top five in all four Majors in 2015. The 2017 US Open arguably represents his biggest chance to add ‘Major winner’ to his CV.
‘But the big thing is just staying within myself. It’s kind of — all of it sounds kind of cliché. Just walking a little slower, going through the process. Making sure I just don’t get ahead of myself. I mean, it’s literally one shot at a time trying to pick this golf course apart, just like I did Thursday morning out here.’
Fowler found some momentum down the stretch as he cancelled out his bogey on the 13th with three consecutive birdies, before that late slip on the last when Harman and Brooks Koepka both made 4s.
‘Yeah, I had a couple bogeys, but I was able to rebound from those and definitely making the three in a row on the back nine was what put me in a good position for tomorrow.
‘I’m happy. I’m happy about the day.’
Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
