LAS VEGAS – It’s hot in Las Vegas, but Rickie Fowler isn’t in the mood for a swim after his chances at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open were sunk by three beach balls in four swings on Friday.
Fowler led the field in Strokes Gained: putting during a 4-under-67 on Thursday afternoon, and it looked like his birdie on the wheeled par-4-15, his sixth hole of the second round, was the start of a push -Ups could have been the leaderboard. Instead, he imploded on the next two holes at TPC Summerlin, fired five shots and ultimately missed the cut.
CONNECTED: Full ranking | Fowler changes putter
After a great ride on the par 5-16 course, the former Las Vegas resident was only 150 yards to the hole. His second shot, however, found the pond guarding the front of the green. After taking a penalty 104 yards from the hole, he threw his next shot into the water as well. His third attempt found dry land but he walked away on a triple bogey 8.
The 31-year-old then stood on the 17th tee (par 3) and immediately pulled his tee shot to the left into another water hazard to card a double bogey. It was the second day in a row that Fowler made hole 5 on the 17th after hitting his tee shot in the water.
Fowler’s problems arose during a time trying to implement swing changes. It saw that its accuracy left it at times.
“It was definitely tough,” said Fowler on the Wednesday before the tournament. “Anyone who goes through change or just deals with struggles and lows happens for everyone at some point.”
The swing changes have been in the works for about a year, but Fowler still trusts that they will solidify and bring new success soon enough.
“I never doubted it just because there were some rounds or tournaments here and there where the work somehow got through,” said Fowler. “I just couldn’t put it all together yet and really get it into a really efficient, consistent form. But that’s coming. We just hit the door down. “
Fowler valiantly tried to make up for his two-hole collapse on Friday, making three birdies on the first seven holes up the front to give himself a chance to make the weekend. But bogeys on his last two holes when he tried to press resulted in a 3-over-74 and an end to his tournament.
Fowler won’t be the only high profile player to finish early at Shriners. Jason Day (68-72) will join him and Francesco Molinari (70-68) will need help from the afternoon wave so that his first tournament in seven months extends two more rounds.
