Surprise leader
ERIN, WIS.— Brian Harman opened up a one-shot lead at the 117th US Open on Saturday in a dramatic third round lit up by a recordequalling 63 from Justin Thomas. Torrential rain that doused the 7,818yard layout at Erin Hills overnight presented the field with a feast of birdie chances, transforming the leaderboard into a sea of red as dusk fell.
Harman, who had begun the day in a four-way tie for the lead, carded a five-under-par 67 which included six birdies and one bogey.
The 30-year-old from Georgia had never gone past the second round in a US Open before this year, missing the cut on his two previous visits in 2012 and 2015.
“We’re breaking down all kinds of barriers,” Harman quipped. “I’m proud of the way I hung in there today. I got off to a pretty good start, which I really haven’t done yet, so that was nice.”
The world No. 50 headed to the clubhouse on 12 under, one ahead of Thomas, Brooks Koepka and England’s Tommy Fleetwood.
The soft, forgiving conditions created opportunity for major movement up the leaderboard for those players willing to take it.
And the prime beneficiary was Thomas, who catapulted up the leaderboard with his recordbreaking nine-under-par 63.
The 24-year-old world No. 13 produced a magnificent eagle three on the 600-yard 18th hole to crown a spellbinding display that was the lowest to par score in US Open history.
The previous lowest score in relation to par was the eight-under 63 shot by Johnny Miller in the final round of the 1973 Open.
Rickie Fowler was two behind Harman on 10-under after a four-under-par 68 while South Korea’s Kim Si-Woo was one behind Fowler after a similar 68.
The low-scoring sets up a wide open final Sunday, with the world’s top three ranked players—No.1 Dustin Johnson, No.2 Rory McIlroy and No.3 Jason Day—all missing the cut on Friday.
None of the leading 16 players have won a major before.—