Tommy Fleetwood fired a final-round 7-under 63 to move 21 spots up the leader board and – for the moment – into second place at 2-over par.
The 27-year old Englishman, who won the European Tour’s Race to Dubai in 2017, started the day six shots back, but after birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 6, and 7, he moved into contention at 5-over par.
A bogey on the 9th hole – the only blemish on the card, saw Fleetwood turn in 32, but after reeling off four-straight gains going home (Nos. 12-15), Fleetwood was staring at history.
A disappointing par on the par-5 16th was followed by another par on 17, leaving the finale at Shinnecock as his last chance to make history.
On No. 18, Fleetwood hit two nice shots to set up a seven-foot birdie putt, and a U.S. Open-record 62. The putt, though, slid by the right edge and failed to fall, leaving Fleetwood to stand alongside five others at 63.
U.S. OPEN RECORD SCORES
63 (-9) Justin Thomas, Rd 3, Erin Hills (WI), 2017
63 (-8) Johnny Miller, Rd 4, Oakmont (PA), 1973
63 (-7) Jack Nicklaus, Rd 1, Baltusrol (NJ), 1980
63 (-7) Tom Weiskopf, Rd 1, Baltusrol (NJ), 1980
63 (-7) Vijay Singh, Rd 2, Olympia Fields (IL), 2003
63 (-7) Tommy Fleetwood, Rd 4, Shinnecock Hills (NY), 2018
