Rickie Fowler happy in Houston mix
March 30, 2018
Rickie Fowler is content to be putting himself in a position to challenge at this week’s Houston Open after an opening round of six-under par.
Fowler made seven birdies and dropped only one shot to leave him tied-fifth as the first round was halted by darkness.
Fellow American Sam Ryder leads on eight-under par, with three holes of his opening round still to play. With the season’s first Major looming next week at Augusta National, Fowler feels a good week in Houston is the perfect kick-start going into the Masters.
“Being in contention and getting yourself in position to win and kind of get the blood flowing, it makes it a lot easier to start things up,” Fowler said of playing well in Houston the week before the Masters.
Starting from the tenth, Fowler opened with a birdie and picked up two more on his first nine in round one.
He got himself to five-under by the mid-point on his second nine before a bogey at the sixth hole.
He responded with back-to-back birdies and was very happy with his play overall, but especially his putting.
“Nice to have the putter coming around because it was something that was great last year,” he said.
“I feel like it’s always been one of my strongest parts when it gets going, and I’ve had a couple of cold months, so [it’s] heating back up.”
Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington needs to win in Houston to get into the Masters and is five-under after round one, three back of the lead.
Jordan Spieth, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and Phil Mickelson are amongst a group of 22 players all on four-under par following day one.
Fowler is 7.00 favourite to win the Houston Open following the opening day, with Spieth 11.00 and veteran Harrington at 81.00.
