Rickie Fowler Turns in Bogey-Free Saturday at British Open, Inching Closer to a Goal

The 34-year-old had two goals this year: win and make the Ryder Cup team. The first is done and his current form is making the second a strong possibility.

HOYLAKE, England — It’s not likely that Rickie Fowler will win the 151st British Open, but after making the cut on the number on Friday he is working towards accomplishing his second-biggest goal of the year and shooting 4-under 67 Saturday only helps.

That goal is playing on the Zach Johnson-captained 2023 Ryder Cup team.

At the beginning of the year, the 34-year-old had two specific goals: win and make the U.S. team.

He accomplished his first goal earlier this month when he won in a playoff at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, now his focus is firmly on Italy and the end of September.

And while Saturday’s bogey-free third round helps toward the goal of getting in the mix for Sunday, it is potentially a bigger part of punching his ticket for Rome.

“I think he (Johnson) knows that all of us, that's our main goal is to make it on that team,” Fowler said. “I've continued to play well and move myself up that list. I wasn't really in position last year to put any points towards my name, but have a chance finally this year to play well.”

Starting off the first tee with Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, Fowler got the worst of the weather as the rain came down hard and he struggled right away, making a 10-footer for par. But then he adjusted and made birdies on the par-4 2nd and 4th to start his accension up the leaderboard.

Two more birdies on the back and Fowler found himself briefly at T11 before the rest of the players started in the good scoring conditions that he experienced for most of his round.

“To get out of the gate and be a couple under through the first six I was definitely pleased with that,” Fowler said. “Obviously made a few good putts to save pars. Had a few birdie opportunities kind of slide by. A little give, a little take. Solid day of golf.”

Now on the fringe of being in the mix, Fowler will wait and see what Brian Harman and the rest of the field does.

At the same time, he knows he needs to put another nice round together towards accomplishing his second goal of playing on his fifth Ryder Cup team.

“We'll just have to wait and see, I would expect some guys to put up some decent scores, and then as far as where the lead is at, that's up to Brian, but he's playing some solid golf.” Fowler said. “No matter kind of what happens, we'll still have a good round tomorrow and have a good chance to salvage a good finish out of this thing.”