Rickie Fowler took early benefit of his spot within the remaining 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 remaining 4 holes to sit down in a tie for tenth place after 18 holes throughout a wet and very gradual spherical.
“I feel simply not making an attempt to get too cute or attempt to do an excessive amount of, play somewhat bit conservative,” Fowler mentioned when requested how he offers with totally different situations all through a spherical at The Open. “Bogeys are OK at instances. You may get your self into bother fairly shortly on the market for those who perhaps attempt to do an excessive amount of.”
Fowler, 36, earned his approach 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 an alternative to play within the John Deere Traditional, 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 A hundred and tenth-ranked participant. Fowler didn’t earn a spot on the Masters or U.S. Open this 12 months and missed the reduce on the PGA Championship.
Nonetheless, he has loved a few of his greatest 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 like taking part in over right here. It is a type of golf I like to play,” he mentioned. “I do know I can compete in any type 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 snug on — one thing he plans to make the most 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 we’ve got,” he mentioned. “You must suppose your approach round it and hit — execute nonetheless but in addition know when you possibly can perhaps play on the aggressive facet or when that you must sort of play conservative or simply keep sensible and take what the course offers you.
“Positively good to get off to a strong begin as a result of you possibly can take your self out of the event fairly shortly Thursday with a poor spherical.”
–Subject Degree Media
