Rickie Fowler uncorks huge, Open Championship-ready drive (video)

Rickie Fowler is playing in Europe getting ready for next week’s British Open, and his huge drive on Saturday showed the magic of links golf.

The 2018 Open Championship (or The British Open, if you prefer) is next week at Carnoustie in Scotland. The PGA Tour schedule does not have a marquee event this week, and most of the big names are either taking the week off or playing in the Scottish Open.

Rickie Fowler, for one, is playing in that event.

Fowler was one back of the lead after a first-round 64 (-6) on Thursday. He followed that up with a 66 )-4) on Friday, to sit at -10 and three shots back of the lead.

Heading into Sunday’s final round, leader Jens Dantorp is at -13 with 16 golfers within three shots. Fowler is in a group of six one back at -12, and the next big name on the leaderboard is Justin Rose in the group of golfers at -10.

A look at Fowler’s scorecard for Saturday would show an unremarkable 68, including a four on the 10th hole. But how Fowler started toward that par was the shot of the day.

Fowler uncorked a 458-yard drive, with the help of a slope, wind and hard, fast, baked-out, dried-out conditions at Gullane Golf Club. Somehow, after threatening but not technically landing on the green, Fowler only managed a par on the hole. Drive for show, putt for dough indeed.

But the No. 7 player in the world rallied over the rest of his back nine, with birdies on No. 11, No. 15 and No. 16 to come in with a 32 after posting a 36 (+1) on his outward nine.

Next: 5 best moments in British Open history

Drives that would win a long-drive competition probably won’t go unpunished in some fashion at Carnoustie next week. But for one epic moment, on a less challenging golf course, the randomness of links golf smiled on Fowler.