Water balls sink Rickie Fowler at Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

LAS VEGAS - It's hot in Las Vegas but Rickie Fowler is not in the mood for a swim after his chances at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open were sunk by three water balls in four swings on Friday. Fowler led the field in Strokes Gained: Putting during a 4-under 67 on Thursday afternoon, and it looked like his birdie on the drivable par-4 15th, his sixth hole of the second round, could have been the start of a push up the leaderboard. Instead, he imploded on the next two holes at TPC Summerlin to drop five shots and ultimately miss the cut. RELATED: Full leaderboard | Fowler makes putter switch After a great drive down the par-5 16th, the former Las Vegas resident was left with just 218 yards to the hole. His second shot found the pond that guards the front of the green, however. After taking a penalty drop 104 yards from the hole, he dumped his next shot in the water as well. His third attempt found dry land, but he walked away with a triple-bogey 8. The 31-year-old then stood on the par-3 17th tee and promptly pulled his tee shot left into another water hazard to card a double-bogey. It was the second straight day Fowler made 5 on the 17th hole after hitting his tee shot in the water. Fowler's troubles have come during a time he's been trying to implement swing changes. It has seen his accuracy desert him at times. "It definitely has been tough," Fowler said Wednesday before the tournament. "Anyone that goes through changes or even just dealing with struggles, low points, it happens at some point for everyone." The swing changes have been a work in progress for about a year but Fowler still trusts they will cement in soon enough and bring renewed success. "I've never doubted it just because there has been some rounds or some tournaments here and there where seeing the work kind of come through," Fowler said. "Just haven't been able to piece everything together and really put it into a really efficient, consistent form yet. But that is coming. We're just beating down the door." Fowler tried valiantly to make up for his two hole meltdown on Friday, making three birdies in the first seven holes of the front side to give himself a chance at making the weekend. But bogeys on his final two holes, as he tried to press, resulted in a 3-over 74 and an end to his tournament. Fowler won't be the only high profile player finishing up early at Shriners. Jason Day (68-72) will join him and Francesco Molinari (70-68) will need help from the afternoon wave to make his first tournament in seven months extend a further two rounds.

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