Rickie Fowler Impresses In Third Round Of Open Championship

News9.com

SANDWICH, England – Former Oklahoma State golfer Rickie Fowler turned in the day's best round and charged up the leaderboard in the third round of The Open Championship Saturday.

Fowler battled light rain and strong winds at the beginning of the day and finished the front nine holes at even par. But when the weather cleared up, he took advantage.

After a bogey on 11, Fowler birdied three out of four holes at 13, 15 and 16. He shot a 2-under 68 on the day, tied for the best round in the field. He was one of only three players in the tournament to shoot a full round under far.

Saturday's strong performance brought him to 2-under for the tournament and a tie for third place, just three shots behind leader Darren Clarke. The 22-year-old Fowler never has won a tournament, let alone a major, and his best finish in any major came last year when he tied for 14th at The Open Championship.

Fowler joined fellow Americans Dustin Johnson, Lucas Glover, Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III near the top of the leaderboard. The Americans have not won any of the last five majors, which marks the United States' longest drought in the modern Grand Slam era.

The Open Championship will conclude with the final round Sunday, which will start early in the morning. Fowler's pairing for the round has not yet been determined.