Rickie Fowler went onto an extremely difficult Los Angeles Country Club and dominated with a US Open record for a single round, firing an 8-under 62.
It has been a stark turnaround in performance for Rickie Fowler over the past year as the uber-popular golfer who had seemingly lost any semblance of form has been reeling off Top 20s and earning his way into major championships like the 2023 US Open.
But even with that, no one could’ve predicted what he would do to start his tournament at Los Angeles Country Club for that US Open.
With a predictably tough test put forth by the USGA before him, Fowler started his round with a birdie on his first hole (the 10th hole on the scorecard), but gave it right back with a bogey. That’s when he started to really catch fire. Stepping onto the 18th hole (his ninth), he was 2-under for the round — but then vaulted up to the top of the US Open leaderboard with four straight birdies.
The hotness didn’t stop there, either, as he added two more with no more boxes working against him. The result: A US Open single-round record 62, good for 8-under and, at the time, the solo lead in the major championship.
History. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/d6AcJmRDZe
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 15, 2023
Rickie Fowler sets US Open single-round scoring record: Golf World reacts
Fowler also became the first player in US Open history to make 10 birdies in a single round. As such, the golf world went wild celebrating Fowler’s ridiculously impressive 18 holes and accomplishment.
Fowler to the field after firing a 62 at LACC pic.twitter.com/tGp2b3pZRq
— claire rogers (@kclairerogers) June 15, 2023
Rickie Fowler ties Roy McAvoy for the lowest round in U.S. Open history!
— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) June 15, 2023
Bob Hope Desert Classic..took 128 years for someone to shoot 62 at the US Open. Fowler might have the record for 30 minutes..Schauffele can shoot 61 with birdie on his last hole. He has a 30 footer for birdie. https://t.co/qG2jVCxDAT
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) June 15, 2023
Complete displays of golf from both Rickie and Xander today.
— The Fried Egg (@the_fried_egg) June 15, 2023
Strokes Gained Ranks
Fowler
Off-the-tee: 12th
Approach: 3rd
Around-the-green: 17th
Putting: 1st
Schauffele
Off-the-tee: 9th
Approach: 1st
Around-the-green: 4th
Putting: 4th
Rickie Fowler(!) on 62 watch—it’s a U.S. Open in Los Angeles, we should’ve known the commercial king would bring his A game.
— Dan Rapaport (@Daniel_Rapaport) June 15, 2023
A 62 for Rickie matches the only other 62 in a major, shot by Branden Grace at the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale... There have been just 6 scores of 63 at the U.S. Open prior to Fowler's 62 at LACC. #USOpen
— Bob Harig (@BobHarig) June 15, 2023
There's 4 total guys better than -2 right now.
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) June 15, 2023
Rickie's 62 is gaining 9.5 strokes on the field, which is 6th in the U.S. Open in the strokes gained era (since 2004).
Two guys are playing absurd golf and it's a golf course that lends itself to low scores if you play this well. https://t.co/bXbs7zDADK
🤯🤯🤯🤯 THAT IS AN UNREAL BIRDIE. RICKIE FOWLER MAKES BIRDIE AT THE 8TH. MOVES TO -8. WITH A PAR AT THE LAST, HE WILL TIE THE MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD. BIRDIE AND HE WILL HOLD THE RECORD. 🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/4USJLDGMyr
— Rickie Fowler Tracker (@Rickie_Tracker) June 15, 2023
Not that it diminishes Rickie Fowler’s feat, but, hilariously, Xander Schauffle needed only about a half-hour longer to tie Fowler with a 62 of his own and at the top of the US Open leaderboard.
Fowler completely dominated the field outside of Schauffele, though, as both ended up five strokes clear of the rest of the field. They also broke the record that was previously held by Jack Nicklaus and Tommy Fleetwood, among four others, of 63 in a single round. They also tied Branden Grace (2017 at Royal Birkdale for the Open Championship) for the lowest round ever in any major championship.
Now comes the harder part: Following up a record-setting round.
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