It was another great day at Aronimink Country Club in Newtown Square. The weather was nearly perfect, the crowd was enjoying themselves, and there was some superb golf played.
Judging from the number of fans following the players, Rickie Fowler was the most popular player out there. Fowler proved again that he was more than just a flamboyant dresser by firing a wonderful 64. Fowler enters the last round ties with Nick Watney at 9 under par.
Before this week, the course record at this great Donald Ross designed course was 64. Today alone, 2 guys shot 64 – Fowler and Webb Simpson. 2 more, Chris Kirk and Steve Marino shot 63. One player, Nick Watney, shot an unbelievable 62, including a preposterous 27, that’s right, 27, on the back nine. Watney’s record score sets him up as tied for the lead with Fowler entering the last round on Sunday.
I played Aronimink once, a few years ago, on a rainy day. It was really long, very difficult, and very impressive. Earlier this week, Tiger called the course “shortish”. I suppose it does play much easier when you are bombing drives in the 300 yard plus range. But for that many players to go this low, all on the same day, is astonishing to me. I didn’t think the conditions were easy by any stretch, with little rain recently to soften the course. Indeed, some great players struggled. But 62? That is amazing.
Golf fans, be advised. Tomorrow may be one of the last times you have a chance to see PGA Tour golf in the area for quite a while. True, the U.S. Open will be played at the venerable Merion Golf Club in 2013, but don’t expect tickets to be widely available. The USGA usually sells out Open tickets, and I doubt if there will be many left for the general public to get their hands on.
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