FOCUS ON Tommy books a date with destiny as lefty Harman leads by one
ENGLAND’S Tommy Fleetwood last night put himself bang into contention to lift the US Open title at Erin Hills.
Only a final-hole bogey took the shine off an error-free – up until that point – thirdround four-under-par 68, to stand on 11-under-par heading into today’s final round in Wisconsin.
This left the Southport man a shot back of American left-hander Brian Harman who sits on 12-under after a five-under-par 67.
Also on 11-under-par are Americans Brooks Koepka, who was playing with Fleetwood and also signed for a 68, and Justin Thomas.
Unfortunately, overnight leader Paul Casey slipped to a three-over 75 and is eight shots behind Harman at the head of the field.
Earlier, American Thomas equalled the lowest score in Major Championship history in stunning fashion to surge into contention for the US Open at Erin Hills.
Thomas fired nine birdies and an eagle on the 18th to card a nine-under-par 63 to also stand on 11-under for 54 holes.
The 24-year-old’s score is the lowest in relation to par in the history of the US Open, surpassing the eight-under 63 carded by Johnny Miller to win at Oakmont in 1973.
And amazingly it could have been even better if not for bogeys on the fourth and 10th, as well as a missed eagle putt from six feet on the 15th after he had driven the green on the 288-yard par four.
“The Majors have a different feel and sound to the roars and to hear the crowd go crazy when I holed that putt on 18 was really cool,” said Thomas, whose back-toback wins in Hawaii in January included an opening 59 in the Sony Open.
“But more important than that was just to get myself in contention to win the tournament.
“I could not have hit that three-wood to the last (from 299 yards) any better if I tried, just a little high cut and I was very fortunate for the overnight rain for the ball to stay there.
“When I saw it was about seven feet away I knew maybe we had a chance of history.”
With the entire field separated by just eight shots after the cut fell at one-over, 2015 winner Jordan Spieth had hoped to get himself into contention, but struggled to a 76.
“It’s been an off-week for me with the putting,” said the former world No. 1, whose back nine of 40 included a doublebogey seven on the 18th.
“I’ve been striking the ball well. It’s just been trying to figure it out on and around the greens. And I feel like once the can gets open, I’ll start pouring them in.
“It’s frustrating in that regard, but today was an off day. Pitchers have good days and bad days, and I took an L (loss) today and come back tomorrow and try to finish this round strong going into next week.”
Earlier on in the day, Scotland’s Martin Laird fired an even-par 72 to stand on oneunder for the Championship heading into the final day.
He said: “It was definitely easier. The greens were pretty soft, but in the same sense it played a lot longer.
“The fairways aren’t running out so some of the holes are playing a couple of clubs longer, but I think you’d rather have that with soft greens than shorter clubs and firm greens.
“You’ve got soft greens and probably the best putting surface you’ll ever putt on.
“Some of the pins were literally on the side of slopes which I expected with the greens being soft but it was fun and I was happy to birdie the last.
“I three-putted the sixth and eighth which was disappointing, especially eight as I had 15ft up the hill for birdie and walked away with a bogey.
“But apart from that I played really solid.”