Murrieta’s Fowler finishes fifth after record breaking start at U.S. Open

JP Raineri

Sports Editor

LOS ANGELES – It might not have been the finish he wanted after his electric opening-round 62, but former Murrieta native Rickie Fowler showed off just about everything during the 123rd U.S. Open that once made him one of the most compelling figures in golf.

Fowler and Xander Schauffele became part of U.S. Open history Thursday, June 15, in a most unfathomable manner. No one had ever shot 62 in the previous 122 editions of golf’s toughest test until they did it some 15 minutes apart.

Rickie made 10 birdies, believed to be a record for most holes under par for any round in the U.S. Open, and can always say he was the first with a 62.

Two groups behind Fowler, who now resides in Florida, Schauffele capped off his 8-under 62 without a bogey on the North course at the Los Angeles Country Club. The U.S. Open had never had more than two players at 65 or better in the opening round. There were six such rounds at LACC.

Fowler’s remarkable round included two bogeys when he missed the green on the 254-yard 11th and missed the fairway on the 17th on his front nine. Starting with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th, he ran off four straight birdies. He set the record with a two-putt from just under 60 feet on the par-5 ninth. They now share the major championship record with Branden Grace, who had a 62 in the third round at Royal Birkdale in the 2017 British Open.

Their record day also came on the 50-year anniversary of Johnny Miller posting the first 63 in U.S. Open history. Since then, five players have shot 63 in a U.S. Open, most recently Tommy Fleetwood in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills.

Fowler once finished in the top five of all four majors, but that was back in 2014. A recent slump has brought about many challenges just to get in them. He was the first alternate last year at Brookline and had to go home without hitting a shot.

“It’s definitely been long and tough,” Fowler, who spoke to the press after his round, said. “It was a lot longer being in that situation than you’d ever want to be, but it makes it so worth it having gone through that and being back where we are now.”

Rickie went back to instructor Butch Harmon in September of last year and has played well enough to get back into the top 50 in the world

Former Murrieta Valley Nighthawk standout Rickie Fowler, pictured here earlier this year, had an opening-round 62 during the 123rd U.S. Open at the Los Angeles Country Club. Valley News/David Canales photo after being in danger of falling out of the top 200 a year ago. Harmon is a renowned golfer and golf teacher, most famous for coaching Tiger Woods from 1993 to 2004. Fowler took at least a share of the lead in each of the final three rounds this past weekend and was alongside eventual champion Wyndham Clark on the last day, but he ended up five shots back with the worst final round among the top 19 finishers. Wearing his signature orange attire, Fowler would card a see FOWLER, page C-2

75, finishing in a three-way tie for fifth place. The former Murrieta Valley Nighthawk has played in the final group three times in a major but has yet to claim a trophy.