Rickie Fowler’s putt was swallowed by a sprinkler head

– Rickie Fowler said earlier this week that he needs to finish off more tournaments when he has an opportunity to win.

“It was just one of those shots you want to get within three feet or so”, two-time Major victor Kaymer told Golf Channel. Fowler is having déjà vu at PGA National, opening with twin 66s, just like a year ago. Previous week: Dustin Johnson won the Genesis Open to reach No. 1 in the world. Defending champion Adam Scott at No. 7 in the world is the highest-ranked player.

“I’m not involved in it at the moment”.

“I start thinking about playing the Bear Trap the night before, for sure”, Harrington said.

Hatton did his work before that stretch, running off three straight birdies to get within one of the lead. “It’s been fairly competitive”. Bryan hit consecutive tee shots into the hazard – including on the par-3 15th, leading to double bogey – and he birdied the 18th to salvage 72 and sit six shots back.

“I had not the best lie in the bunker”. Fortunately, I was patient to hang around long enough and have a run at it and got there. “I figured if I couldn’t play good, at least I wanted to look good”.

Notable: Scott had middle rounds of 65-66 and defeated Sergio Garcia by one shot.

“It felt like I had never swung a golf club before”.

No doubt, the competition at the top is fierce.

In the past five years, 21 Europeans have finished among the top-10 at PGA National, more than a third of the entire total.

Fowler hasn’t won since Abu Dhabi a year ago in January.

“You don’t have to do much wrong to get in a tough spot out there”, he said.

Hatton, in his first PGA Tour event in Florida, came into the week with no expectations and stuck to that plan.

By August, it was gone.

“I’d like to get a win on the homeland”, Thomas said. “The sense of accomplishment was great, and I was obviously playing well”.

“So from there on out, I felt like it kind of eased me a little bit and I was able to start swinging a bit better and drove it well from there on in, other than 10”. The man, who did not want to give his name to a Palm Beach Post photographer, received a golf ball signed by Pan as an apology.

“But then he dusted me that day”.

Still, Scott is not ready to slink away.

“I’ll go out there and play the best I can tomorrow, that’s all I can do”, said Hatton, who tied for fifth in the Open Championship and tied for 10th in the PGA Championship a year ago. “So I’m pretty happy with that and hopefully I can have a good day tomorrow”.