Rickie Fowler Leads Barclays Through 54 Holes

With a Ryder Cup spot on the line, Rickie Fowler has taken the 54-hole lead at The Barclays.

It’s been a trying summer for Rickie Fowler, but his game has taken a turn for the better as the 2015-16 season nears its conclusion. Faced with a tough setup at Bethpage Black, the 27-year-old has broken 70 in three consecutive rounds to claim a one-stroke lead at The Barclays.

Fowler played in the penultimate group today, trailing 36-hole leader Patrick Reed by just one stroke at the start of the round. The California native played consistent, steady golf, circling two birdies on the front nine and one on the back for a bogey-free round of 68.

As the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs, this is a high-stakes tournament for everyone in the field, but it’s especially important for Fowler. He’s currently 12th in Ryder Cup points, and The Barclays is the last chance for players to position themselves. The eight automatic qualifiers will be decided tomorrow evening; if Fowler fails to secure his spot this weekend, it will be out of his hands. He’d need to impress captain Davis Love III in the next few playoff events in order to net a captain’s pick.

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Fortunately for Fowler, he’s extremely well-positioned to move inside the bubble. A victory would easily put him on the team. For the week, he ranks seventh in strokes gained: putting and eighth in strokes gained: tee-to-green, a combo that should make him tough to beat tomorrow.

His most likely competitor will be Reed, who shot a third round 71 after sleeping on the 36-hole lead. The Augusta State product never quite got it going today, recovering nicely after a rough patch on the front nine but failing to circle a single birdie on the back. The even-par round put him one stroke behind Fowler, so he has a great shot at the trophy. A win here would be his first in more than a year-and-a-half, locking up his Ryder Cup status.

The round of the day belonged to world No. 7 Adam Scott. The Aussie went out early and got his round off to an electrifying start, holing out from the fairway for an eagle on the first hole. From there, he made six birdies and two bogeys, ending up with a six-under 65. Scott is now at seven-under for the tournament, two shots behind Fowler.

Emiliano Grillo and Martin Laird are tied for fourth at six-under, three shots behind Fowler. World No. 1 Jason Day is in a tie for sixth at five-under, along with Justin Thomas, Gary Woodland and Kevin Streelman. A group of six players, including Dustin Johnson, Ryan Moore and Tony Finau, sit in a tie for 10th at four-under.

If the tournament were to stop here, Keegan Bradley would be the man on the bubble. The New Englander shot a Saturday 74 to tumble down the leaderboard, but his current tie for 47th would still allow him to climb six spots up to 100th place in FedEx Cup points. He’ll need to play well tomorrow if he wants to punch his ticket to the Deutsche Bank Championship.

While the playoff jockeying is certainly interesting, tomorrow’s real drama will lie at the top of the leaderboard. Can Rickie Fowler get his first PGA Tour win since last year’s playoffs and lock up a Ryder Cup spot in the process? Will Patrick Reed put an end to his drought and add a win to his ultra-consistent 2016? Or will someone else rise up and take the trophy? Don’t miss the exciting conclusion of The Barclays tomorrow afternoon.

Next: Who Should Darren Clarke Pick for Team Europe?

What do you think: will Rickie Fowler hold on for the victory? Let us know in the comments, and keep it here at Pro Golf Now for more updates from The Barclays.