Rickie Fowler came home with a wet sail at the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Saturday, birdieing six of his last eight holes to take the lead in Detroit.
The American picked up three shots on the front nine but a bogey after the turn threatened to derail his round.
He righted the ship quickly however, his late flurry propelling him to 20-under par and a one stroke lead ahead of Adam Hadwin.
Speaking after his round, Fowler said: “Whether it happens (Sunday) or not, it’s going to happen here soon.
“I’ve been playing a lot of really good golf and been putting myself in good positions.
“This definitely won’t be the last.”
Fowler is tied with Wyndham Clark for the most 54-hole leads/co-leads on Tour this season (3) and is 2-for-10 with the 54-hole lead/co-lead in his Tour career (victories: 2017 Honda Classic, 2019 WM Phoenix Open).
Hadwin carded a stellar third round 63, tying the course record, to gain seven spots on the leaderboard and keep in close range of Fowler, who has not won an event on the PGA Tour in four years.
Fellow Canadian Taylor Pendrith who held a share of the overnight lead signed for a 67 to move down into solo third place at 18-under while his co-leader, American Taylor Moore, carded a 69 to move down into a share of sixth place at 16-under.
Hadwin and Pendrith are seeking to join Mackenzie Hughes, Adam Svensson, Corey Conners and Nick Taylor as Canadians to win on this season. Four winners is already the most in a single season on Tour on record since 1983 and the fourth season overall with wins by multiple Canadian players.
The last time five or more different players from the same country outside the United States won on Tour in the same season was in 2013-14, when six different Australians won: Steven Bowditch, Jason Day, Matt Jones, Geoff Ogilvy, Adam Scott and John Senden.
England’s Aaron Rai is tied for fourth on 17-under following a Saturday score of 66.
