Justin Thomas shoots 63, trails Brian Harman by 1 at US Open

Cary Marshall
00:05, Jun 19, 2017
Copyright 2015 All rights reserved. This material can't be published, transferred, copied or redistributed.
Copyright 2015 All rights reserved. This material can't be published, transferred, copied or redistributed.

By the end of day two the 117th US Open at Erin Hills had already proved itself to be record-breaking, and the low scoring only continued during moving day.

Thomas' dramatics happened on the 18th when he hit his second-shot 3-wood more than 300 yards on the par-5, 667-yard finishing hole.

The record was previously held by Johnny Miller who shot a 71 at Oakmont in 1973.

"This week I've been working with my coach, just sitting there and thinking, all right, let's go out and try to make a good golf swing and try to make a good putt".

Coming close: Louis Oosthuizen was on his way up the leaderboard with six birdies - and then he got to 17. Palmer shot a 65 after going into the final round trailing by seven shots. That put Thomas only one stroke back of Harman.

Recent U.S. Open winners like Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth have also struggled to stay relevant, paving the way for Fowler to make his move and get the breakthrough that has so far eluded him in his career. The star of round three, however, was not the leader, well as the gritty left-handed Harman - no southpaw has ever won this championship - performed in shooting 67.

Joining Thomas in joint second place is countryman Brooks Koepka and England's Tommy Fleetwood (both 68).

"You could keep knocking it back and forth over that green", said Fleetwood, "staring seven or eight in the face".

"This is my first time in contention in a major, so whatever happens I'll be doing my best and seeing how well I can finish", he said.

There were a lot of low scores Saturday.

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The first-period goals chased Rinne from Nashville's net; however, backup Juuse Saros ended up not faring any better. Schultz's shot from the point went through the legs of Nashville forward Auston Wilson and goaltender Pekka Rinne.

The course had experienced some rain the night before round three. There were five after Saturday's round. His third round featured six birdies and an eagle (par-five 18th) and two bogeys.

Reed, who beat Rory McIlroy in the first singles contest at Hazeltine a year ago and was wearing the pants from his Ryder Cup uniform, said: "You always can take that fire from Ryder Cup and use it in other events".

But Thomas' lead, which sat at two shots after he eagled 18, lasted only temporarily as Fleetwood and Harman each birdied Nos. "And I feel like once the cannon gets open, I'll start pouring them in". "I felt like I've been playing pretty well all week, and didn't have quite the numbers to show for it".

"Well, it would change my life, I know that", Fleetwood told reporters.

"It's going to be weird", Thomas said of the evening.

At Rancho Mirage in early April, Thompson was given the four-shot penalty with six holes to play in the final round.

Rickie Fowler, sharing a house with Thomas this week, was being left behind until he ran off three straight birdies and shot 68. "As long as it's a good tournament, it's good for the U.S. Open and the USGA". If somebody shoots 9-under tomorrow in the top few then I'll have to shoot 10, I guess.

"It's going to be a really cool day for someone tomorrow", Fowler said. And I think that's a testament to the set-up of the golf course, that when you set up a golf course in a fair manner and the weather is good, the scores are going to be low.

Indeed, just about the only certainty is that the new champion will be a first-time major victor - only the best recent member of that exclusive club, Sergio Garcia, is in the top-20 here - the destination of the famously nameless trophy is up for grabs.

Copyright 2015 All rights reserved. This material can't be published, transferred, copied or redistributed.


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