Erin Hills again lacked enough wind to be the stern test the U.S. Open wants, and it showed.
Thomas, decked out in shocking fluorescent pink trousers, produced a no less electric performance signing for nine-under 63 to equal the lowest numerical score in a major and the best ever in the 117 year-history of the U.S. Open in relation to par. One might expect a little more excitement - unless one is his caddie, James Johnson.
"Well, it would change my life", he said. "Like you said, it's history".
"So we're breaking down all kinds of barriers", Harman said of his day.
"I'm proud of the way I hung in there today. But I know I'm going to be nervous, but it's a good nervous".
"If somebody shoots nine under tomorrow in the top few (as Thomas did on Saturday) then I'll have to shoot 10, I guess". "Two yards either way, I would have been stuck".
Yet this golf course is no snap. That trio is tied for second at 11-under par.
Fleetwood almost came into the clubhouse with a minus-12. But his chip landed short of the green on a ridge, leaving him a almost impossible putt to hold the green.
It was the second time in four holes that fortune had favored Fleetwood.
Fleetwood said he must stay in the zone he has enjoyed all week in the rolling Wisconsin countryside.
Pakistan's Amir fit for final against India
Pakistan lost by 124 runs to India but bounced back after their lucky win via the Duckworth-Lewis method over South Africa. It was one of the most one-sided matches in the history of India vs Pakistan cricket.
"It was a good save, though. It was a good bogey", he said. "It means I have a lot better chance to win the tournament than I did when the day started".
Patrick Reed showed up in his Ryder Cup trousers, fired a 7-under 65, at that point tied for the low round of the tournament, and he trails by 4 shots.
"The guys at the scoring table told me that, so I was pretty pumped about that". "And you can't do anything about what anybody else is doing". But you can't do anything about that stuff. He dropped nine shots over the next seven holes - three double bogeys, three bogeys and one par. With the course playing like it is, no score is insurmountable, and the U.S. Open looks like it will be anyone's to win on Sunday.
"I've only hit 7-iron, that's the longest I've hit into any par-4. That's why I play, to get myself in this position". He made two more birdies, including one on the par-3 seventh that put him at 12 under. His only birdies came on the front nine, on Nos. There were 18 rounds in the 60s on Saturday. He drove the green on the 288-yard, par-4 15th and got down in two.
There was also the score to consider.
"It is always cool to be part of some sort of history in golf", Fowler said.
The 30-year-old Harman has five top-10 finishes and two victories since joining the tour in 2012, most recently at the Wells Fargo Championship in May.
Fleetwood had been tied for the lead after birdies on the first, eighth, 12th, 14th and 15th, only to bogey the last after following up a poor pitch by putting his birdie attempt off the green.
Nick Rogness felt as nervous as anyone at the U.S. Open - not because of a golf club in his hand but the diamond ring in his pocket. If I wake up with the same feelings tomorrow, I'm going to have a chance. "I may not be leading the tournament by the time I tee-off".
"And my short game is pretty good". It's the best I've struck the ball in a long time. "So I'm excited about all those things".
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