Despite finishing bogey, double-bogey last night in Texas, Rickie Fowler launched himself into contention heading into the final round of the Shell Houston Open.
A third round 67 saw the American pick up eight birdies and give just three shots back during his march up the leaderboard.
He is now just three strokes shy of Sung Kang, with the South Korean finishing on a round of 71 yesterday. Despite a tough finish, Fowler said he was happy with his round.
"It was great," he said during his post round press conference. "You can't really dwell on last two holes. I mean, we went out and played some good golf today, Joe [Skovron, caddie] and I just managed our way around very well.
"Hit a lot of our lines and a lot of good shots and made good putts.
"Yeah, just got funky on the greens last two holes. Was trying to avoid a spike mark on 17 and the putt, my second putt for par on 18 supposed to go right and I started it inside left and it moved left on me. Whether that was wind or something on the green.
"So, yeah, unfortunate, but we put ourselves in a position to win. We've done all the work these last three days to be in the position we're in right now and put that behind us and 18 holes of golf left."
Rickie Fowler hits from a bunker on the eighth hole during the third round of the Houston Open golf tournament, in Humble, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
The first 16 holes was evidence of Fowler at the peak of his powers. Consecutive birdies from seven to nine was followed by another two around the turn and he was asked about some of the positives from his round up to that point.
"[I] drove it well, hit a lot of fairways and greens. Made some good putts. Really not to look at the last two holes. It was a great day of golf.
"I put myself in a position to go win a golf tournament tomorrow, so we go get some rest, sleep, and there's 18 holes in front of us to go play. Like I said, to focus on winning the golf tournament. Three days behind us and let's go have some fun."
Fowler now tees off this evening with the momentum behind him and he added: "Like I said, not to think about the last two holes.
"Three days we're in a position where we're at right now, and 18 holes of golf tomorrow or whether that's Monday, we'll go see if we can get another trophy."
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