It’s been nearly a year since Rickie Fowler won his last event on the PGA Tour.
That came at the Deutsche Bank in the 2015 playoffs.
On Saturday, Fowler dropped a five-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole at Bethpage Black to take a one-shot lead into the final round.
Fowler’s 68 was good enough to put him a shot in front of Patrick Reed, the overnight leader. At the same time Fowler was holing his birdie putt, Reed stood over a six-footer for a birdie that would have tied Fowler but he missed. Reed’s even par effort, 71, got him to eight-under.
The big move of the day came from Adam Scott, who saw his putter come to life on Saturday. He shot a six-under par 65, low round of the week and hoped the momentum would carry him to the final round. “I got off to a great start, holed my wedge on the first and set the tone for the day,” Scott said of his eagle on the opening par four. “I just freed my mind up with the putter. I played really great the first two days, I putted, not well. It’s been the story of my year since The Masters.”
Scott’s two big putts came at the 12th and 13th holes when he made one from 45 feet for birdie at 12 then holed a second 45-footer to save par at 13.
Fowler’s story is not that much different from Scott’s. His putter is coming around in a big way. “It’s been a long time coming,” Fowler said. My game’s been nice tee to green and the short game’s been there for me.” Fowler was tied with Reed for most of the back nine as he clicked off eight straight pars. He hit an iron off the tee at 18 then parked his approach within five feet to take the lead.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Fowler said of the final round. “It’s been a long time coming. It’s simple, we have to take care of business tomorrow.”
Fowler has arguably been the most consistent player in the field. He has made only one bogey in three rounds. “That came at the ninth hole the first round,” Fowler recalled. “The putt was a 180 spin-out.”
Fowler and Reed will play in the final group, Scott and Martin Laird will go out in front of them. Laird was in at six-under with Emiliano Grillo.
World’s No. 1 Jason Day was in at five-under with three other players.
