England’s Tommy Fleetwood is one shot off Brian Harman’s lead going into Sunday’s final round of the US Open.
The 26 year old from Southport shot a four-under-par 68 to keep pace with fellow overnight leader Brooks Koepka at Erin Hills, while lefthander Harman carded a 67 to lead on 12 under.
Justin Thomas is tied for second after becoming the first man to shoot a nine-under-par round at the US Open, and the fifth 63 in its 117-year history.
Rickie Fowler, who led after round one, had a run of three successive birdies from the 14th as he shot a four-under 68 to get to 10 under and just two off the lead, while second round leader Paul Casey and Masters champion Sergio Garcia are in a group of nine players on four under, after they posted 75 and 71 respectively.
Heavy overnight rain helped low scoring on ‘Moving Day’, with players able to take advantage of receptive greens and attack the holes. Thomas opened his round with two birdies. Four more followed on the front nine before bogey on the 10th looked to have put paid to his chances of breaking Miller’s 44-year-old record. But after three birdies in six holes, he eagled the 667-yard par-five 18th, hitting his second shot to eight feet from 300 yards and rolling in the downhill putt.
Fleetwood, who finished tied for 27th on his only other US Open appearance in 2015, appeared to be heading towards his second bogey-free round of the tournament after laying up with his second shot on the par-five 18th. However, he left his chip short and then putted through the green and off it with his fourth shot. A wedge to three feet allowed him to escape with only his third bogey of the week.
“That was the best shot I hit all day,” the 26-year-old said. “I hadn’t been out of position all day and suddenly I was staring double bogey in the face. Bad shots make bogeys and 18 was a good example. I could still have been there now, hitting the ball over the green. But I hit the perfect shot and I was made up when I got on the green. Three days down and so far so good. If I wake up with the same feelings on Sunday I’m going to have a chance.”
