Justin Thomas took a two-shot lead on Saturday after shooting the lowest round in relation to par in US Open history, courtesy of an eagle on the 18th hole.
When he made his sublime birdie putt on fifth, his third in his opening five holes, then maybe many should’ve believed that it was his day, such was the dramatic performance put on by the 24-year-old.
We’ll file this under “out of this world” in our archives #USOpen https://t.co/zcm5CHr7cz
— Compleat Golfer (@CompleatGolfer) June 17, 2017
The slightly-built star, who famously shot 59 at the Sony Open earlier in the year, then rolled in a lengthy putt on the seventh as he got into the mad scramble at the top of the leaderboard.
JT is having one heck of a day #USOpen https://t.co/eRkZeFKI3W
— Compleat Golfer (@CompleatGolfer) June 17, 2017
Two more birdies followed at eight and nine before a rare error at 10 cost him a shot.
Thomas was disappointed when he failed to convert his eagle try on 15 after driving the green, but consoled himself with a tap-in birdie as he took his attention from trying to grab the lead to trying to grab history with Johnny Miller’s -7 shot in 1973 in serious jeopardy.
Making it look (very) easy! #USOpen https://t.co/PciHoYaJd4
— Compleat Golfer (@CompleatGolfer) June 17, 2017
A birdie on 17 meant that he stood on the 18th tee box knowing that a birdie would tie the best-ever score, but his plans changed dramatically when he launched another excellent drive down the fairway. What followed next, was a shot deserving of any one-shot accolade in golf as he hit his 3-wood 290-yards to eight feet, setting him up with a chance of putting for a place in history.
Thomas is out of control. Will putt to break the lowest score in #USOpen history! https://t.co/zNSFxQD8nD
— Compleat Golfer (@CompleatGolfer) June 17, 2017
The history making putt by @JustinThomas34 #USOpen https://t.co/63snvTbhgu
— Compleat Golfer (@CompleatGolfer) June 17, 2017
History was made, but his record may yet be broken in future, and had he not made two bogeys on Saturday, his name might’ve very well stayed in the history books forever.
FROM THE MAG: Justin Thomas was always going to be a star
A three-minute recap of @JustinThomas34‘s record-setting 63 at the #USOpen. pic.twitter.com/tTAktO4eXw
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 17, 2017
Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images