Justin Thomas just shot the best round against par in the 117-year history of the U.S. Open, capping off a 9-under 63 with a scintillating eagle 3 on the par-5 closing hole at Erin Hills.
Playing the massive final hole, Thomas hit a 330-yard drive leaving 299 yards to the hole. Thomas, who shot 59 en route to winning the Sony Open in Hawaii earlier in the year, hit a high, cut 3-wood which barely hit the green and rolled out to 8 feet behind the hole. After playing partner Jonathan Randolph made a longer putt for bogey 6, Thomas' eagle putt was center-cut for history.
.@JustinThomas34 has this putt to break Johnny Miller's #USOpen record for lowest score in relation to par. https://t.co/i0CFGdlWnE
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 17, 2017
And there it is! @JustinThomas34's 9-under 63 sets the #USOpen record for the lowest score in relation to par. https://t.co/aicd4H69eg
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 17, 2017
Thomas' 63 is just the fifth in U.S. Open history, which has seen the second-fewest 63s among the four major championships. Johnny Miller had been the only other player to shoot 63 in a major, shooting an 8-under tally in the final round of the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club.
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Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf shot 63 in the first round of the 1980 U.S. Open at Baltusrol in New Jersey, while Vijay Singh shot 63 in the second round of the 2003 Open at Olympia Fields in Illinois.
Thomas made six birdies against a bogey on the fourth hole on the front nine. After making the turn in 5-under 31, Thomas had a three-putt bogey on No. 10. After a birdie on No. 12 from a downhill lie in the fescue after his tee shot, Thomas hit an amazing 288-yard 3-wood at the reachable par-4 15th, missing the 6-foot eagle putt and settling for birdie. Following a birdie on the 523-yard 17th, Thomas pulled off his amazing 3 to finish.
"@JustinThomas34, 26'10" for the solo lead" ... 🎤 drop#USOpen https://t.co/5K2pqeuECI
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 17, 2017
In major championship history, 31 players have shot 63 in men's major championships. Among the previous 30, seven went on the win a major that week.
