How bold can Fowler go?

Rickie Fowler will need to be bold in more ways than one on Sunday to chase down his maiden major at Royal Portrush.

By Bailey Mosier

Rickie Fowler will be going bold on Sunday at The 148th Open. With his attire? We know that for certain. His play? That remains to be seen.

Fowler posted a 5-under 66 on Saturday to move up the leaderboard into a tie for sixth through 54 holes at Royal Portrush. Fowler looks to overcome an eight-shot deficit if he hopes to catch Shane Lowry, who shot 8-under 63 on Saturday to move to a three-day total of 16-under 213.

Bold play will certainly help his cause.

A bold look? Sounds like it won't hurt.

Famous for sporting orange on Sundays, Fowler was asked after his third round if he was going to wear the color on Sunday in Northern Ireland. The color orange evokes strong sentiments in this region, as it is deeply associated with the Orange Order - a protestant fraternal order that is squarely on the unionist side of the Northern Irish divide.

“I obviously know the history of Ireland and Northern Ireland. But a few people told me that being not a local, it doesn't necessarily matter as much or it shouldn't,” Fowler said.

Fowler may not be a local, but he'll be looking to play like one on Sunday as the weather is forecast to take a turn for the worse. That shouldn't be a problem for Fowler, whose ties to this area date back to 2007 - he played on the U.S. Ryder Cup team at Royal County Down. Fowler is also known for an ability to weather the storm - quite literally. In the 2011 Open at Royal St. George's, Fowler battled the worst of conditions on Saturday to shoot 68, eventually finishing T-3 that week.

"I don't know if anyone ever truly enjoys playing in that weather, but I've had success in some pretty bad weather. ... You never know. I think we plan for the worst and see what happens."