3M Open: Rickie Fowler shares lead after opening 64, Dustin Johnson forced into late caddie change | Golf News

Improved driving performance at The Open inspired Ricky Fowler to advance to the first round at the 3M Open, where Dustin Johnson returned home with 70 siblings and a Austin cadet after a positive test for Covid-19.

Rickie Fowler splits the lead after 64

Ricky Fowler continued his recent recovery as he scored 64 points to claim his first-place finish at the 3M Open in Minnesota.

Fawler was encouraged to close 65 at The 149th Open on Sunday, scoring seven goals to get the club to an early start when his tally matched when Troy Merritt needed just 30 shots to cover nine in the TPC Twin Cities. .

Tom Lewis of England finished 68th out of four, while world No. 2 Dustin Johnson opened the scoring with a 70-yard touchdown run a week after his brother Austin’s test, a positive for Covid-19.

Fowler is back after The Open from the list of the 100 best in the world

Fowler’s all-round performance was good as he returned to the fight at his request, dropping the world rankings to 128th after an unanswered stop at AT&T Byron Nelson in May – the lowest rating since early 2010.

And the 32-year-old was even keen to show a light-hearted goal towards Bryson DeChambo as he explained how his poor driving in the second and third rounds at Royal St. George prevented him from fighting for the title.

“I came back on The Open on Sunday, there were a lot of good things and I drove it much better,” he said. “It was something that kind of stopped me from building a bird and moving forward last week.

“I drove it very badly Friday and Saturday, but it wasn’t my driver’s fault,” he added in a clear reference to DeChambo’s famous “my driver pulls” after last week’s first round, a statement that made him drink hot water. landed the club’s sponsors, who, incidentally, are the same Fowler.

“Going away from what we did last Sunday, we just had to strengthen a few things. This golf course is generous enough. There are a few lakes and pools that you have to avoid. Besides,” it goes attacking for the most part.

“So I think we did a good job of simple road management because I hadn’t necessarily seen much of a golf course before. I played 18 Tuesdays and nine yesterday, but yes, just feel good and keep it simple. had. “

Brothers Dadin Johnson and Caddy received a positive test from Covid-19

“It was great to see some plush on top of that because it was another part of the game that hasn’t really helped me much over the last two years.”

Johnson appealed to Keith Sbarbaro, TaylorMade’s vice president of tourism operations, to pick up his bag this week and make his last two holes to break one to 70, and he confirmed that his brother is back in the bag for WGC-FedEx. After two weeks of invitation in Memphis.

“Keith shot for me a few times, so it worked well,” Johnson said. “AJ is doing well, so for Memphis, which is my next race, everything will be fine.

“Keith has actually worked for me a few times; the President’s Cup, the US Open, a few events here and there. Yes, we did very well. Maybe the wrong club hit the pair, but besides, it was my fault though , I think. “