Rickie Fowler shoots 62, records lowest round in U.S. Open history
LOS ANGELES — There have been six golfers to shoot a 63 in the U.S. Open. In the 123rd rendition of the national championship, Rickie Fowler one-upped them all.
Teeing off at 8:02 a.m. local time alongside Justin Rose and Jason Day, who each ended their victory droughts earlier this year, Fowler birdied his first (the 10th hole) to get things going. He made the turn in 32 and the promptly birdied Nos. 1, 2 and 3 to get to 6 under. Another birdie on No. 6 got him to 7 under and put him on track for a 63.
Fowler, who didn’t qualify for the last two U.S. Opens, got into some trouble on the 537-yard par-5 8th, sending his tee shot into a barranca down the right side. No problem. Fowler got it back on the fairway, hit his third to about 25 feet then drained a bending birdie putt to to get 8 under.
When you're hot, you're hot 🔥
10 birdies today for @RickieFowler and he is alone at -8. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/5oJlbWK6NV
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2023
Facing a long birdie putt on the par-3 9th, his final hole of the day, he needed a two-putt for the first 62 in U.S. Open history and he got it.
It’s the first 62 ever in the U.S. Open and just the second in major championship history. Brendan Grace had a 62 in the 2017 Open Championship.
Fowler hasn’t won since the 2019 WM Phoenix Open. This season, he’s posted eight top-10s in his last nine starts, with a missed cut at the PGA Championship the lone blemish during that run.
Fowler is 11th in the latest Golfweek/Sagarin rankings; he’s 45th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
After his Wednesday practice round, he told Golf Channel: “I obviously want to get back inside the winner’s circle. Now, it’s all about continuing the improvement.”
