Fowler patient, but must start fast today

Rickie Fowler is still searching for his first major after coming a stroke away in last year’s Masters.

On Moving Day this year, he fired a 4-under-par 68, his best round of the week. Even though he still finds himself further from the top, he's still in contention.

He's tied for 12th at 7-under 209, six shots behind leader Francesco Molinari.

“I’m happy,” Fowler said. “I’ve done a good job hanging in there. You look at the start of the golf course, the first seven holes and it’s not easy. I think the hole that I played the worst out here was No. 3. It’s arguably one of the easiest par 4s. It just shows how any hole can come up and get you if you’re not on or miss your spots.”

PHOTOS: Moving Day at The Masters

After starting his day with a bogey, the No. 9-ranked golfer in the world found the hot hand and bounced back with three birdies in a row on hole Nos. 2 to 4.  

Later, the 30-year-old chipped in for eagle on the par-5 13th.

"It’s a very makeable chip, but it’s also one where if you’re not careful and don’t hit it right, it makes you look really bad,” Fowler said. “You could end up with 40 feet really quickly.”

Fowler’s scorecard included five birdies, three bogeys and that eagle. He knows he needs to shoot low Sunday for a chance at the green jacket and said the key to playing well is having patience.

“I've done a good job of just staying in the moment, not getting ahead of myself, not getting down and kind of just continuing to push forward,” Fowler said.

Fowler has kept himself in contention by escaping once he reaches trouble. He’s successfully scrambled on 13 of 17 opportunities.

“Just taking my time, not rushing anything,” Fowler said. “It’s helped that I’ve putted well all week. I’ve been hitting my lines a good speed. I didn’t hit a great putt at the last today but other than that just doing a good job of managing myself, the space between my ears and staying in the moment.”

The five-time winner on the PGA Tour tees off today at 8:47 a.m. with Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen.

“I know I’m going to have to play a solid round of golf tomorrow but the biggest thing for me is getting off to a good start,” Fowler said. “Hit a bunch of fairways, let myself attack from there.”