JUPITER – Marquee names Rickie Fowler and Matthew Wolff didn’t make it through a 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier Monday at The Club at Admiral’s Cove.
At least Fowler made it to the end.
Fowler rebounded after a morning 2-over 73 to fire 67 in the afternoon, but was tied for fifth at 2-under 140 when play was stopped because of lightning. The top four finishers advance to next week’s U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, MA.
Fowler birdied the 16th and 17th holes, but lipped out an 8-foot birdie putt at the final hole that would have lifted him into a tie for fourth with Fred Biondi.
Fowler still has a chance to earn first alternate status if he were to win at least a 7-for-1 playoff when play resumes or if leader Sean Jacklin (6-under) falters on his last three holes.
“It was a strong second 18,” Fowler said. “I was a little shaky this morning. I didn’t get quite enough sleep last night, coming off a three-week stretch (on the PGA Tour) and getting sick last week. But no excuses.”
Wolff didn’t give himself a shot at a comeback. He walked off the course midway through his second round after hitting his drive into the water at the ninth hole of the North Course.
Officials for the Florida State Golf Association officials, which runs the qualifier, said Wolff didn’t mention an injury. His scorer said Wolff left after hitting his poor drive.
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Wolff was 1-under for the day and three shots out of fourth place when he arrived at the ninth tee. Wolff was runner-up in the 2020 U.S. Open, but has missed six of his last nine cuts on the PGA Tour and is No. 75 in the latest world rankings.
Sean Jacklin, son of two-time major champion Tony Jacklin, was leading at 6-under with the three holes left. Jacklin was at 9-under before making three consecutive bogeys. Jacklin was the last player in the field, getting word he had a spot just 20 minutes before his tee time Monday.
Ryan Gerard (66-71) of Raleigh, N.C. earned a U.S. Open spot. Keith Greene of Debary, FL., was tied for second with Gerard at 5-under with one hole to play. Biondi (72-67), a former Port St. Lucie resident and member of the University of Florida team, was in at 3-under.
Steve Marino has a birdie chip on his final hole to join Biondi at 3-under. Tyler Collet was also at 2-under, but faced a par putt at his closing hole.
The attention remained focused on Fowler, especially after earlier in the day Phil Mickelson confirmed he would be playing in the inaugural LIV Golf International Series event this week near London.
“I feel like it was kind of inevitable in a way,” Fowler said of Mickelson. “I assumed this would happen. It’s no shock to me.”
Nor would it be a surprise if Fowler eventually joined the list of prominent players to join LIV Golf. The five-time PGA Tour winner has one top-10 finish in his last 22 starts and has fallen to 145th in the latest world rankings.
Fowler said at last week’s Memorial Tournament that he would continue to play the PGA Tour and he has no plans to play LIV Golf “right now.” But he has talked to LIV Golf officials and will continue to have discussions.
“I’m still in the same, exact position,” Fowler said Monday. “LIV is interesting. It’s going to be interesting how it plays out.”
Fowler used to be a constant contender in majors. In 2015, he finished in the top five in all four of them, including a runner-up showing at the U.S. Open.
Now, he has a hard time getting into majors. Assuming he misses next week’s U.S. Open, he will have played in only three of the last seven majors.
Fowler will fly to Boston on Tuesday, but not to scout The Country Club. He instead will be going to Puma’s headquarters for a sponsor event.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rickie Fowler’s U.S. Open hopes uncertain after qualifying round