Thomas stars, but Harman takes the lead
ERIN, Wis. — Justin Thomas managed to stand out at a U.S. Open where par is going out of style.
All it took was a 9-under 63, the lowest round in relation to par in a major long known as the toughest test in golf. Thomas capped off his record day on the 667-yard 18th hole at Erin Hills with the prettiest 3-wood he ever hit, stopping eight feet away on a green where some players struggled to land a wedge.
He made the eagle to get his name in the record book Saturday. The lead, however, belonged to Brian Harman.
The former University of Georgia golfer closed with two birdies and three tough pars for a 5-under 67 that gave him a one-shot lead at 12-under 204.
“Yeah, 12 under, I’d have about a 10-shot lead in most (U.S.) Opens,” he said.
Not this one. Not even close.
Erin Hills again lacked enough wind to be the stern test the United States Golf Association wants for its signature event, and it showed. There were 18 rounds in the 60s Saturday, and 42 players were still under par after 54 holes.
“Usually when you shoot even in a U.S. Open and you’re one off the lead, you’re not six down afterward,” J.B. Holmes said.
In the 116 previous U.S. Opens, only six players had ever reached 10 under or better, never in the same tournament. By the end of a wild and wide-open Saturday, five players were double digits under par.
Brooks Koepka made three birdies over his last seven holes for a 68 and joined Thomas one shot out of the lead.
Also at 11 under was Tommy Fleetwood, who was poised to take the lead until his pitch came up short, his next shot went 60 feet down a slope on the back of the 18th green and he turned a potential birdie into a bogey and settled for a 68.
Rickie Fowler, on the verge of being left behind, rallied with three straight birdies and also shot 68. He was 10 under, only two shots behind.
“It’s going to be a really cool day for someone tomorrow,” Fowler said. “I’m looking forward to my shot at it. I’ve been there a handful of times and had some good finishes. But I’m looking forward to getting the job done.”
Two Baylor School graduates in the field had a tougher time Saturday.
Harris English — a college teammate of Harman’s — settled for a 75 after four bogeys and a birdie, and he was at 1-under 215, tied for 35th. Stephan Jaeger, a former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga standout, was three strokes further back after a 74 and had a share of 51st. He was 1 under for the round through 15 but made bogey on his final three holes and five for the day.
Thomas finished in style, and it had nothing to do with his hot-pink pants. He had 310 yards to the hole when he hit 3-wood that could have led to big trouble if he went too far long or left.
“Oh gosh, Jimmy, be good,” he said to caddie Jimmy Johnson when the ball was in the air.
It was close to perfect, and Thomas poured in the eagle to become the 29th player with a 63 in a major championship.
“The finish was awesome,” Thomas said. “I’d love to have another one of those.”
He might need one at this rate. About all that saved Erin Hills from another onslaught was a forecast for the strongest wind of the week. Regardless of the weather, it didn’t take long for the 24-year-old Thomas to understand the significance of his record round.
“That means I’m a part of history,” he said. “It means I have a lot better chance to win the tournament than I did when the day started. I felt like I’ve been playing pretty well all week and didn’t have quite the numbers to show for it. Obviously, today I definitely had something to show for it.”
Thomas, a major away from joining the young elite in golf, only added to a year of low numbers. He made an eagle on his final hole at the Sony Open in January to shoot 59, and he went on to break the PGA Tour’s 72-hole scoring record.
The U.S. Open didn’t seem to faze him, and he delivered a variety of big shots that led to his sensational finish.
But the work is not done. Of the five other players who shot a 63 in the third round at a major, none went on to win. Most of them had to come from far back going into the weekend, and it was difficult to put together two good rounds.
Then again, none of the top 16 on the leaderboard has ever won a major.