2016 Olympic golf leaderboard: Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson on fire in Rio third round

Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson have been having the time of their lives in Rio but through two rounds on the golf course, their games were no match for the intensity of their Olympics spirit.

Then came Fowler’s outgoing nine holes on Saturday, when he put on a show for the Rio faithful, holing out for eagle on the par-4 ninth to cap a 6-under 29 as he made the turn.

With Fowler dropping some shots on his back nine, Watson took up the Team USA baton with a birdie to kick off his weekend. Bubba then went back-to-back-to-back on holes 3 through 5 to get into a tie for fifth place and, at 6-under, just four back of leaders Marcus Fraser and Thomas Pieters and into contention for making the podium.

Maybe a dose of celebrity was enough to get Rickie rumbling. His pal Matthew McConaughey was on hand to lend his support on Friday.

“We’ve always followed each other on social media, and we linked up this week and we’ve been texting and he said he was going to try to come out to the golf. Pretty cool that he was able to make it,” Fowler said after his Saturday outing. “I know he’s been enjoying his Olympic experience going to some events. Just shows you how big the Olympics is. There’s a lot of people that come in to watch.”

And not just the A-listers. The galleries on Saturday were far fuller than they were for golf’s return to the Olympics for the first time in more a century on Thursday and Friday.

“Take a look at this crowd,” Golf Channel’s Peter Jacobsen gushed as fans streamed into the venue. “It looks like an Open.”

Let’s not get carried away, Jake, but for sure the atmosphere was more charged early Saturday than it had been up to then. No doubt, the fireworks from Fowler and Watson were responsible for much of that.

Fowler is still a huge long shot to get into contention for a medal after he dug himself a hole with a four-putt, 7-over triple-bogey on his first hole on Thursday. He has been playing better daily, as he followed his opening 75 with a 71, and his third-round 64 put him at 3-under — 7 strokes off the lead.

“If I keep improving by four shots each day,” Fowler observed, “won’t be in a bad spot.” If he goes four better in the final round than he did on Saturday, that could probably get him the damn gold.

Bubba is back in a good spot too, with plenty of his round left to continue his weekend charge up the board. He may, indeed, have to determine whether to lay up or go for the green on 18 on Sunday — perhaps for the gold.