Fowler and Clark dueling midway through US Open third round

LOS ANGELES :Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark were locked in a fight atop the leaderboard as they made the turn at the third round of the U.S. Open on Saturday, with Harris English and Rory McIlroy threatening as well.

Overnight leader Fowler is on track for another rollercoaster round at the Los Angeles Country Club after mixing two birdies with two bogeys through his first nine holes.

The resurgent Southern Californian is looking to win a breakthrough first major title in LA this weekend.

The confident Clark went bogey free with two birdies through his first nine to leapfrog overnight leader Fowler for the outright lead at 11-under par.

English was three-under through his first 10 holes to pull into a tie for second with Fowler, while McIlroy was one shot further adrift.

FOWLER MAKING HISTORY

Despite setting U.S. Open records in his two rounds, Fowler entered the day with just a one-shot lead over playing partner Clark with McIlroy and Xander Schauffele a further stroke back at the Los Angeles Country Club.

Fowler, playing in his first U.S. Open since 2020, has been stuck on five PGA Tour victories since 2019 and despite his on-course struggles over the years, the 34-year-old has remained one of the most popular players on the U.S.-based circuit.

Fowler has already made a mark this week as his two-day 130 total tied the lowest 36-hole U.S. Open scoring record set by Martin Kaymer in 2014. He also set a tournament record with 18 birdies through 36 holes.

Fowler, who also held a share of the first-round lead with Schauffele, will have his work cut out this weekend with a leaderboard that features plenty of top-tier talent.

Clark, who beat a stacked field at Quail Hollow for his first PGA Tour victory last month, made the cut for