(Los Angeles) Fifteen minutes apart, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele set and tied a US Open record by shooting 62 on Thursday.
This is the lowest score in the tournament’s 128-year history.
Fowler had 10 birdies at the Los Angeles Country Club.
Two groups behind, Schauffele benefited from a brilliant tee shot in the seventh, lodging his ball five feet from the cup. He got his eighth and last birdie there.
PHOTO MATT YORK, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Xander Schauele
In major tournaments, Branden Grace also shot 62 at the British Open in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, in the third round.
Inaugurated in 1911, the LACC hosts a prestigious tournament for the first time.
Record scores could raise questions about choice of court, but Schauffele isn’t keen on that.
“My job is to play golf,” he said. I try not to speculate too much. I go with what the terrain gives me. Today, I got a good score. »
Schauele finished five times in the top 10 at the US Open, in six tournament appearances.
Six players had scored 63 at the U.S. Open, most recently Tommy Fleetwood in 2018 in the final round at Shinnecock Hills.
Fowler stalled a 15-foot putt at 18e hole, then starting a series of four birdies. Finding himself in a bunker on the fourth hole, he sent his ball two inches from the cup, having to settle for a par.
Having reconnected with instructor Butch Harmon last fall, Fowler has found the top 50, he who was in danger of leaving the top 200 a year ago.
Bryson DeChambeau, Si Woo Kim, Scottie Scheffler and Paul Barjon brought home a 67.
DeChambeau won the event three years ago. Scheffler triumphed at Augusta last year.
Rory McIlroy is five under at the halfway point, the result of five birdies.
Defending Masters champion Jon Rahm is in the group at 69
Frenchman Matthieu Pavon scored a hole-in-one at 15e hole (124 yards), in his round of 71.
Canadians Corey Conners and Adam Hadwin played par (70).
Adam Svensson had 71, one shot better than Roger Sloan.
Nick Taylor, who won the Canadian Open in spectacular fashion last weekend, is among the other Canadians at the event. Taylor Pendrith and Mackenzie Hughes complete the portrait for the maple leaf.