Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler redemption stories to inspire final round duel at US Open

Eighteen holes sit between Rickie Fowler or Rory McIlroy and one of golf’s great redemption stories. It sounds and looks so blissfully simple.

It would be utter folly, of course, to insist the 123rdUS Open is now the domain of only two competitors. It is just that Fowler or McIlroy would deliver the finest tales. The $3.6m first prize would be irrelevant to both. This is about status, reputation and a return to golf’s top table.

Fowler’s career slump, from an earlier position of challenging for these titles as routine, took him to 185th in the world. The Californian is chasing the maiden major win that once looked inevitable. McIlroy’s scenario is altogether different but no less fascinating. His wait for what would be a fifth major stretches back to August 2014. Then, at the US PGA Championship, Fowler was one of the golfers he had to shake off. It would have been fitting had Fowler and McIlroy formed the final group at LA Country Club. Instead, Wyndham Clark tickled in a birdie putt at the last to earn a spot alongside Fowler.

Drama on the final green did not end there. Fowler missed a par putt from 2ft, meaning he sits in a 10 under par tie with Clark at the head of affairs. McIlroy, who signed for a stress-free 69, is just one adrift. Clark matched McIlroy’s round three score. Fowler’s 18th stumble meant he shot 70.

“I felt like I played really smart, solid golf,” McIlroy said. “I’m going out there to try to execute a game plan. I feel like over the last three days I’ve executed that game plan really, really well. I just need to do that for one more day.” His demeanour was noticeably businesslike.

McIlroy played his first three in two under. He dropped a shot at the 4th but played steady, par golf from there aside