The Ryder Cup hangs over battle atop Barclays leaderboard

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They won’t be playing for Olympic gold, but there will be plenty at stake on Sunday when Rickie Fowler and Patrick Reed pair in the last grouping for the final round of The Barclays at Bethpage Black.
Fowler and Reed represented the United States at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where American Matt Kuchar won a bronze. Playing for their country was special, but on Sunday, Fowler and Reed will be trying to win the first leg of the FedEx Cup and take a huge step toward the $10 million jackpot that goes to the winner of the four-tournament format.
“We’re going to have some fun,” Fowler said. “We’ve spent a lot of time together growing up, playing junior golf. He’s fun to watch, and he’s going to be tough to beat.”
Fowler will take a one-stroke lead into the final round after his birdie from 5 feet on the 18th hole Saturday completed a 3-under 68. He is 9-under after 54 holes. Reed settled for an even-par 71, failing to convert birdie putts from 7 feet and 15 feet on the final two holes.
Adam Scott had the low round of the day, firing a 6-under 65 to lift the Australian to 7-under. Defending Barclays champion Jason Day, also of Australia, is at 5-under after a 1-under 70.
It was the second straight bogey-free round for Fowler, whose last bogey came on the ninth hole of his opening round Thursday. He credited his putting for keeping his scorecard clean.
“It’s been bad, the past few months, just seeing myself hit good putts and not go in,” Fowler said. “To see it starting to come around, it’s definitely helped out the rest of the game. When you aren’t making putts, it kind of tightens up the rest of the game. So it has a big impact on the way you play.”
His par at the dangerous par-3 17th was a prime example. His tee-shot fell short of the green into the front bunker. His blast out of the sand rolled 11 feet past the cup. His putt for par was pure.
“I hit a great putt and it tried to wiggle on me at the end,” Fowler said. “Luckily it just broke back in and caught the right lip.”
After squaring three bogeys with three birdies on the front, Reed was bogey-free on the back, but missed birdie chances at 17 and 18.
“I felt like I missed a couple putts toward the end that I should have made,” Reed said.
Fowler and Reed are hoping to secure spots in the U.S. Ryder Cup team and could use a victory to improve their chances after subpar seasons. Fowler has yet to win this year after missing the cut at the Masters and U.S. Open and didn’t contend at the Open Championship and PGA Championship. He tied for 37th in Rio.
Reed also is seeking his first win of the year after finishing second three times. He tied for 11th in Rio.
“A win [Sunday] would go a long ways,” Fowler said. “It would take care of a lot of things.”
It’s hardly a two-man race. Fourteen golfers are within five shots of the lead, and while the Black is playing fast and firm, Scott proved anyone is capable of going low.
“It’s going to be tough [Sunday],” Fowler said. “It’s obviously one of, if not the, toughest golf courses we play all year. There’s nothing lacking on the field as well. Some guys are playing well and some guys put up some good scores today. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been a long time coming. It’s going to be fun.”
If it means anything, Fowler is sporting a mustache for the so-called playoffs, which has drawn plenty of comments from the boisterous Bethpage galleries. Fowler doesn’t mind.
“Hopefully,” he said, “I’ll give myself a chance to celebrate with them [Sunday].”
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