Rickie Fowler took early benefit of his spot within the last main of the 12 months by carding a 2-under par 69 after the primary spherical of The Open Championship at Royal Portrush on Thursday.
Fowler offset three bogeys with 5 birdies, together with going 2 below over his last 4 holes to sit down in a tie for tenth place after 18 holes throughout a wet and intensely sluggish spherical.
“I believe simply not attempting to get too cute or attempt to do an excessive amount of, play slightly bit conservative,” Fowler mentioned when requested how he offers with totally different circumstances all through a spherical at The Open. “Bogeys are OK at occasions. You may get your self into bother fairly rapidly on the market in the event you possibly attempt to do an excessive amount of.”
Fowler, 36, earned his method to Northern Eire this week with a top-10 end on the Memorial. He then opted to not come over early for the Scottish Open, deciding as a substitute to play within the John Deere Basic, the place he tied for 18th.
As soon as a daily across the first web page of main leaderboards, simply being in attendance is now not a given for the world’s One hundred and tenth-ranked participant. Fowler didn’t earn a spot on the Masters or U.S. Open this 12 months and missed the minimize on the PGA Championship.
Nevertheless, he has loved a few of his finest main success at The Open. Amongst Fowler’s 13 earlier begins was a tie for second at Royal Liverpool in 2014 and a tie for fifth at Royal St. George’s in 2011.
“I really like taking part in over right here. It is a model of golf I like to play,” he mentioned. “I do know I can compete in any model of golf, however particularly this.”
Fowler tied for sixth the final time The Open was held at Royal Portrush, carding a 66 on Saturday earlier than struggling to a final-round 74. Nonetheless, it is a course he feels very comfy on — one thing he plans to reap the benefits of over the following three days.
“It is a difficult golf course, relying on the place the wind’s at and what sort of climate now we have,” he mentioned. “You must suppose your means round it and hit — execute nonetheless but additionally know when you may possibly play on the aggressive facet or when you want to type of play conservative or simply keep good and take what the course offers you.
“Positively good to get off to a stable begin as a result of you may take your self out of the event fairly rapidly Thursday with a poor spherical.”
–Subject Stage Media
