It has actually been a lengthy 3 years for Rickie Fowler and also on Sunday at the 2022 Zozo Champion he has a possibility to squash all his previous movie critics. Navigating Accordia Golf Narashino Nation Club with a 4-under 66 on Saturday, Fowler stands at 14 under with 3 rounds and also regulates a slim lead over Keegan Bradley at 13 under, Andrew Putnam at 12 under and also Viktor Hovland at 11 under.
Playing in the last combining along with Putnam in the 3rd round, Fowler barely appeared he was a year gotten rid of from his last opinion run. 2 birdies on his external fifty percent were gone along with by 3 on his internal fifty percent and also just one bogey– his only acne over his last 36 openings.
While the cumulative golf public will certainly go to the rear of Fowler in the last round of the Zozo Champion, his go back to prestige will certainly not come without anxiety. Fowler has actually battled as a 54-hole leader throughout his period on the PGA Excursion, transforming just 2 of 8 previous possibilities right into triumphes including his last victory at the 2019 WM Phoenix Az Open.
Last in this setting at the 2021 CJ Mug up Club, Fowler battled very early and also usually 51 weeks earlier and also inevitably paved the way to Rory McIlroy. There is no McIlroy in this area, however that is not to claim his pursuers can be dipped into. Bradley can ball-strike with the most effective of them, Putnam remains in the middle of an excellent seven-tournament stretch and also Hovland is well, Hovland and also efficient in nearly anything.
” It’s been a while given that I have actually remained in this circumstance. In 2015 at CJ [CUP] remained in a comparable circumstance, however apart from that, there hasn’t been a lot the last couple of years,” Fowler stated. “Certainly keep in mind remaining in those scenarios prior to, however no, it will certainly be difficult tomorrow, however likewise enjoyable. I’m anticipating the difficulty. I’m mosting likely to need to play well and also remain to do what I have actually been doing the last 3 days. Keegan [Bradley], Putty [Andrew Putnam] on down the checklist, there’s lots of people within a couple of shots. I’m out front, in control, however that can transform if I do not perform like I have actually been.”
The leader
1. Rickie Fowler (-14 )
Fowler started the week congratulating Tom Kim and also his previous caddie Joe Skovron on their triumph at the Shriners Kid’s Open and also currently he locates himself ready to get a prize of his very own. Inspiration has actually never ever been short lived for Fowler as movie critics cut loose and also his current swing modifications just encouraged those ahead out of the woodworks.
The iron play has actually looked exceptionally sharp with 3 rounds, however much more notably, he is beginning to putt like classic Fowler once again. While numerous like to indicate his full speed as the root cause of his bad play, it has really been the level stick which has allow the 33-year-old down. Shedding strokes on the environment-friendlies the last 2 periods on the PGA Excursion, he has actually rapidly remedied this circumstance. While the full speed will undoubtedly come under stress in the warmth of opinion– and also the vehicle driver ought to get on the eyes of customers– with Fowler it has and also constantly will certainly boil down to the putter.
Various other challengers
2. Keegan Bradley (-13 )
3. Andrew Putnam (-12 )
4. Viktor Hovland (-11 )
T5. Radical McNealy, Cameron Champ, Hayden Buckley (-10 )
T8. Sahith Theegala, Taylor Moore, Tom Hoge, Ryo Hisatsune, Joel Dahmen, Matthew NeSmith (-9 )
Previously today, a concern was positioned on the First Cut Podcast whether Collin Morikawa, Cameron Youthful or Hovland will certainly record one of the most triumphes in the 2022-23 period. My CBS Sports associate Kyle Doorperson was the only male to choose Hovland and also should be smiling right now.
Accordia Golf Narashino Nation Club is a splendid suitable for the Norwegian as he is just one of the most effective sphere demonstrators in this area and also has actually presented this with 54 openings. Striking all 18 environment-friendlies in policy in Round 3, if Hovland has the ability to maintain points this anxiety complimentary on Sunday, it might be him and also not Fowler that scratches a win for Oklahoma State.
” It’s simply sort of straightforward golf. Like there’s not excessive water, however there’s simply some truly great tee shots out below. Not the best fairways and also the harsh is chastening, so you have actually reached drive it well,” Hovland stated. “If you place it in the fairway, you’re mosting likely to have a great deal of great brief irons with the environment-friendlies being so soft and also pure, so you can truly assault the pins, and also if you obtain the putter going, you can make some birdies.”
2022 Zozo Champion upgraded chances and also choices
- Rickie Fowler: 11/5
- Keegan Bradley: 12/5
- Viktor Hovland: 6-1
- Andrew Putnam: 15/2
- Radical McNealy: 20-1
- Cameron Champ: 25-1
- Hayden Buckley: 40-1
- Sahith Theegala: 40-1
- Tom Hoge 45-1
- Matthew NeSmith: 60-1
- Taylor Moore: 75-1
- Joel Dahmen: 80-1
The heart claims Fowler leaves the schneid and also wins the Zozo Champion. His cost is reasonably reasonable and also I do not mind delighting simply for the reality it is Fowler. Sadly, golf has a method of tearing hearts out and also Hovland might be the gamer to do simply that.
The globe No. 11 will certainly require to strike a couple of even more fairways, however, for a chauffeur of his quality, this must be attainable. He has actually silently turned into one of the most effective putters on the planet going back to last summertime and also incorporated with his ball-striking expertise, he will certainly place a lots of stress on Fowler, and also perhaps sufficient to damage him.
