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Rickie Fowler started the third round of the Shell Houston Open on Saturday seven strokes back of leader Sung Kang. He ended it just three back after shooting a 67 that could have (and probably should have) been a lot better.

Fowler tied Kang up at 17 under after just 14 holes by making eight (!) birdies that included long putt after long putt. It felt like he was winning the golf tournament in one fell swoop. Then came the final two holes.

Fowler missed the fairway at Nos. 17 and 18, missed a handful of putts and finished bogey-double bogey to fall back to 14 under instead of 17 under which is where he was after the 16th. Fowler four-putted No. 18 for his double. It was a disappointing finish to what seemed like a momentous round.

Still, Fowler will have a chance on Sunday to beat Kang who could only muster a 71 on Saturday after opening with a 65-63. Kang ended Saturday at 17 under. 

Fowler has been cruising along all week and leads the field in strokes gained from tee to green. Overtaking Kang will be a challenge given his 36-hole lead, but Fowler is one clear of Russell Henley and two clear of the rest of the field so he’ll have some breathing room to try and get his work done in Round 4.

Fowler is also locked in ahead of the Masters where he missed the cut last year. This week is as much about the prep work for next week as it is about winning the Houston Open. Fowler knows that. Everybody knows that. 

“It’s definitely beneficial,” said Fowler earlier this week. “Being able to get four competitive rounds the week prior to leading into Augusta, you leave here hopefully, hopefully we leave here Sunday. There’s a chance it’s Monday. You leave, and then there’s just those couple days, you know exactly what may have been a little off or what needs to be worked on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

“When you step up on the tee Thursday, you’re a lot more prepared, I feel like, because it wasn’t too long ago that you were playing a competitive round of golf. I definitely feel like it’s very beneficial playing the week before a major.”

If you’re wondering what a win on Sunday would mean for Fowler’s chances next week at the Masters, keep this in mind. In the last 60 years, only Sandy Lyle (1988) and Phil Mickelson (2006) have won the week before Augusta National and gone on to grab a green jacket.