INZAI, Japan —
Rickie Fowler said he was
confident of ending a three-year US PGA Tour title drought as he took a
one-shot lead into the final day of the Zozo Championship in Japan on Saturday.
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Fowler has not won a tournament since the 2019
Phoenix Open, but he rattled off five birdies and a bogey to score a 66 at
Narashino Country Club and move to 14 under, one shot ahead of fellow American
Keegan Bradley.
Fowler, a three-time major runner-up and former
world number four, said his self-belief had not wavered despite his poor form,
which included missing the cut at last week’s Shriners Children’s Open in Las
Vegas.
“I’ve definitely had some tough times the last few
years,” said the 33-year-old, who has won five US PGA Tour titles. “It was
always just a fine line, a shot or two here or there, and it’s nice to start
building momentum and confidence and getting the ball rolling in the right
direction.”
Fowler looked to be in danger of losing his lead
when he drove his tee shot into the bunker on the 18th. But he played his way
out of trouble and birdied the hole, saying he was “looking forward to the
challenge” of going for the title in Sunday’s final round.
Bradley hit five birdies and a bogey to sit one shot
behind Fowler, with Andrew Putnam one further back on 12 under and Norway’s
Viktor Hovland on 11 under.
Matsuyama 10 off lead
Home favorite
Hideki Matsuyama admitted his chances of defending his title had all but vanished
after his round of 66 left him 10 shots off the lead.
Matsuyama gave the thousands of fans following him
around the course something to cheer about when he hit back-to-back birdies
midway through his round in Chiba, near Tokyo.
But his overall tally of five birdies and one bogey
left him in a tie for 31st place, and he said he would need a miracle to defend
his title.
“I think my score
would have to be in the 50s tomorrow,” he said. “I don’t think I have much of a
chance but I want to do my best.”
Hovland put himself right in contention after making
a 45-foot eagle putt on the final hole. “It felt like the round was going
downhill a little bit,” said the world number 11. “But after a nice birdie on
15, it kind of revived it a little bit and obviously with the eagle on the
last, that’s a nice way to end it.”
The round of the day came from American Sahith
Theegala, who shot seven birdies on the front nine before coming home in 63.
“I played really well on that front nine,” said the
24-year-old, who is nine under overall. “I actually made a six-footer for par
on the first par five and that’s a hole that a ton of people are going to have
birdie looks at.”
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