Thomas charges but Harman takes lead

Unheralded American Brian Harman has taken a dramatic third round by the scruff of the neck to lead the US Open at Erin Hills in Wisconsin.

American Justin Thomas became the 29th golfer to shoot 63.

But with debut host course Erin Hills yielding to scores not typical of a US Open, Thomas couldn’t hold the lead for more than an hour as Harman came in with a five-underpar 67 during the third round.

Harman, who won the US PGA Tour’s Wells Fargo event in May, climbed to 12 under and will take a one-shot lead into the final round over world No 13 Thomas, Brooks Koepka and England’s Tommy Fleetwood (both 68) sharing second place.

World No.9 Rickie Fowler, who held the halfway lead, earned solo fifth with a 68, with Players Championship winner Si Woo Kim a shot back alone in sixth after also carding a 68.

Earlier, Thomas mixed nine birdies and two bogeys during the third round before hitting his second shot to six feet on the par-5 18th and tapped in for eagle to record the lowest round (nine under) in relation to par in US Open history.

Big-names to collapse on day three were former US Open winners Jordan Spieth and Martin Kaymer.

Spieth, who won the 2015 event, dropped away with a 76 leaving him in 59th at four-over while 2014 winner Kaymer fell to even-par after a 75.