Rickie Fowler, Wyndham Clark tied after U.S. Open’s third round

Wyndham Clark lines up his putt on the 10th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Wyndham Clark reacts after missing a putt on the 10th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Fans walk up to the 14th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Si Woo Kim reacts after his putt went long on the 15th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Mackenzie Hughes reacts on the 15th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Fans look on during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Dustin Johnson prepares to putt on the 7th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Wyndham Clark and his caddie walk a path on the 4th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Xander Schauffele tees off on the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Dustin Johnson tees off on the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Harris English plans a putt on the 7th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Rory Mcllroy talks with his caddie Harry Diamond about the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Rickie Fowler tees off on the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Brooks Koepka and his caddie discuss his putt on the 15th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Friends pose for a photo behind the 10th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Scottie Scheffler tees off on the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Min Woo Lee and his caddie make a plan for the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Dustin Johnson talks with his caddie Austin Johnson before teeing off on the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Rory Mcllroy tees off the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Cameron Smith tees off on the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Scottie Scheffler and his caddie are all smiles after landing the ball on the 15th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Justin Suh and his caddie look out at the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Justin Suh reacts after teeing off on the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Sam Bennett tees off on the 15th during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Fans react as Sam Bennett putts on the 14th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Libby Cline Birmingham, Contributing Photographer)

Rickie Fowler with a bag tag with his daughter name Maya Fowler during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Rory McElroy with Century City into background misses a putt on the 12th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Dustin Johnson tees off the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Rickie Fowler with Century City in the background misses a putt on the 12th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Fan try and get a glimpse of Rickie Fowler as he walks by during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Wyndham Clark makes his way to the 9th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Harris English lines up his putt on the 11th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Rickie Fowler lines up his putt with Century City in the background misses a putt on the 12th green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Dustin Johnson reacts after teeing off the 15th hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Xander Schaufflele lines up his putt on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Tony Finau chips onto the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Min Woo Lee reacts after making his putt on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Brian Harman birdies his putt on the fist green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Min Woo Lee chips on the the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Sam Bennett lines up his putt on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Tony Finau reacts after sinking his putt on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Looking toward the clubhouse during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Justin Suh lines up his putt on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Rory Mcllroy of Northern Ireland reacts after missing a putt on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Dustin Johnson chip onto the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Justin Suh drives from the fairway off the first hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Fans look toward the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Dustin Johnson reacts after sinking his putt on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Rory Mcllroy of Northern Ireland lines up his putt on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Rory Mcllroy, right, of Northern Ireland looks down the fairway of the first hole along with his caddy Ricky Romano during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Harris English reacts after sinking his putt on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Rory Mcllroy of Northern Ireland putts on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Rickie Fowler makes his way to the second tee during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Dustin Johnson reacts after chipping onto the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Rickie Fowler putts on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Rickie Fowler tees off the second hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Sam Bennett chips onto the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Wyndham Clark tees off the second hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Cameron Smith of Australia hits out of the bunker onto the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Wyndham Clark waits his turn to putt on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Fans look on toward the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Sam Bennett reacts as he chips onto the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Rickie Fowler reacts after sinking his putt on the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Harris English chips out of the bunker onto the first green during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Denny McCarthy tees off on the second hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Andrew Putnam tees off on the second tee during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Nick Hardy tees off on the second hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Sam Burns tees off on the 2nd hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Austin Eckroat takes a swing on the first tee during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Eric Cole tees off of the second hole during the third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

The third round of the 123rd U.S. Open Championship at the Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 17, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)

Expand

LOS ANGELES — Like commuters on the 405 freeway at rush hour, the players at the top of the leaderboard at the start of play found it difficult to make much forward progress during Saturday’s third round of the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club.

Among the final 10 players to tee off on Saturday, the best score posted during an extremely difficult day of golf was a 2-under 68 posted by Scottie Scheffler. As a result, six players will start Sunday’s final round within six shots of the lead held by Murrieta native Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark, who are tied at 10-under 200. Rory McIlroy, looking for his first major title in nine years, sits in third place following his 1-under 69 on Saturday that leaves him at 9-under par 201. Scheffler is alone in fourth at 7 under.

Through 16 holes Scheffler was among the crowd feeling extremely frustrated, primarily because of his inability to convert any of the birdie opportunities he gave himself that could have propelled him closer to the players above him on the leaderboard.

Scheffler’s outlook and his position heading into Sunday’s final round dramatically changed when his second shot on 17 bounced on the green and proceeded to roll into the cup for an eagle, putting him back in red numbers for the first time since a birdie on the first hole. He followed the eagle by making a long birdie putt on 18, giving the former Masters champion some strong momentum heading into Sunday.

“I was fighting all day today, trying to just get myself back in position, just trying to make some birdies and avoid the bogeys,” Scheffler said. “I didn’t do a great job of that for most of the day but I grinded it out pretty hard. I felt like today was one of the days where I got punished for my mistakes, whereas yesterday I felt like I wasn’t getting punished at all. Today it seemed like every time I got offline, I was really fighting for par. Just fortunate to see that shot go in on 17 and then a nice birdie on 18 to kind of get myself back into it.”

After grinding so hard for much of the round, Scheffler’s big finish could very well provide the jump start he needs to rally from behind on Sunday and win his second career major championship.

“I’m standing there on 17 tee looking up at the board and I’m seven shots back and I’m thinking maybe I can steal one shot coming in, but really I’m just trying to hit the fairway there just to give myself some sort of chance, because if you miss that fairway on 17, I am going to be fighting for par again,” Scheffler said. “Then I hit a nice drive and the (second) shot goes in and it’s a huge boost. Then I hit another two good shots into 18, nail the putt, and all of a sudden instead of seven shots back I’m only three. So definitely a huge momentum boost going into tomorrow, and hopefully I’ll just keep it rolling.”

Before the leaders had even showed up at the course to begin preparing for their rounds, Tom Kim provided some hope for those needing to post a really low round when he went out and fired a 6-under 29 on the front nine. Kim started with a birdie on one and added four more birdies over his next five holes. After a par on seven, he birdied eight and nine, making the turn at 6 under. But three bogeys on the back nine led to a 2-over 37, leaving Kim with a 4-under 66.

“That back nine is really hard. You just don’t really have any bailouts,” Kim said. “Those three bogeys really don’t feel like bogeys because I barely missed it by a yard or two. But major championship golf, U.S. Open really brings it out of you. Would have been nice to kind of par in and see that bogey-free or see one or two more birdies, but if you told me at the start of the day, I’d take that score.”

Fowler will be attempting to go wire-to-wire when he tees off Sunday in search of the first major championship title of his career. Unlike Friday’s roller-coaster second round which saw Fowler post eight birdies and six bogeys, Fowler’s third round was much less frantic. Throughout the 18 holes he was never more than one shot higher or lower than his starting score of 10 under.

“A little bit of a grind out there today,” Fowler said. “Still hit some good shots, but with the firmer conditions and the pins being some kind of tucked front pins. When you miss the fairway, it makes it very hard to make par. I had to accept some bogeys there in the round early on, but I feel like we did a good job of kind of staying present, moving forward, and like I said, still a lot of quality shots. Through three rounds we’re in the spot that we want to be in.”

It appeared as if Fowler would finish the day alone at the top of the leaderboard but his short par putt on the final hole lipped out, dropping him into a tie with Clark. The miss seemed to surprise Fowler, who gestured with his hands in disbelief.

“You could see from the first putt, there’s a lot of slope there,” Fowler said. “I’m not sure why it didn’t move. It should have. I hit a good putt, just a bummer. It would be nice for that one to go in. Really doesn’t matter, having the lead, being one back, two back. You’re going to have to play good golf tomorrow.”

While Fowler said he has experienced the usual nerves that go with trying to win a golf tournament, he feels overall he’s been able to handle the pressure that goes with chasing a major championship better than he has in quite a while.

“This is the best I’ve felt all year and definitely in a long time,” Fowler said. “We all feel nerves at times, depending on certain shots or circumstances, but I mentioned it yesterday and then still stand by it. This is the best I’ve felt, let alone in a normal tournament but especially a major, and I would say really ever in my career.”

Early in the round, it appeared McIlroy might be ready to go low and distance himself from the pack. He birdied two of his first three holes and had good opportunities for birdies on several other holes on the front side. But time and time again his birdie putts just missed and over the final nine holes he, like everyone else in the field, found himself battling to keep from dropping strokes.

“The golf course definitely got a little bit trickier today than the first couple of days,” McIlroy said. “I felt like I played really smart, solid golf. Hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens. Overall, yeah, pretty pleased with how today went, and feel like I’m in a good spot heading into tomorrow.”

While he’s one of the few players near the top of the leaderboard who have won a major, McIlroy said he doesn’t believe his previous success gives him any type of leg up heading into Sunday.

“It’s been such a long time since I’ve done it,” McIlroy said. “I’m going out there to try to execute a game plan, and I feel like over the last three days I’ve executed that game plan really, really well, and I just need to do that for one more day.”

As he strives to win the biggest tournament of his career, Fowler was asked what winning a US Open title would mean to him.

“I mean, obviously it would be huge, especially being here in Southern California, having a lot of people, family and friends that are out here this week,” Fowler said. “We have a chance tomorrow. I mentioned out there after going through the last few years, I’m not scared to fail. I’ve dealt with that. We’re just going to go have fun, continue to try to execute, leave it all out there, see where we stand on 18.”

Golf |

Swanson: Murrieta homeboy Rickie Fowler leading the U.S. Open? What we always expected

Golf |

U.S. Open: Par 3s at Los Angeles Country Club are having a big impact

Golf |

Alexander: With U.S. Open lead, Rickie Fowler’s struggles seem to be behind him

Golf |

U.S. Open: Rory McIlroy hopes look into past helps yield a title this weekend

Golf |

U.S. Open notes: Sam Bennett showing off his major form again