So Much For ‘Massacre 3’ As JT Shoots Lowest Winged Foot U.S. Open Score In 91-Years.

So much for talk of a ‘Massacre 3’ at this year’s U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

World No. 3 Justin Thomas first round five-under par 65 is the lowest round ever in a U.S. Open at the famed Long Island club.

And as the aftenoon half of the first round draw took to the course there was another seven players under par on day one of the 120th staging of the U.S. Open.

Legendary amateur Bobby Jones held the record of a three-under par in the 1929 U.S. Open and the first hosting at Winged Foot.

Fellow American Larry Zielder posted a second round 68 on a par-70 layout in ‘Massacre 1’, and the staging of the 1974 U.S. Open won by Hale Irwin at seven-over and with Jack Nicklaus signing for a closing day 70.

At the 1984 U.S. Open Fuzzy Zoeller shot a second round 66 on route to defeating Greg Norman in a play-off after both players ended regulation play locked at four-under.

Then in ‘Massacre 2’, and that being the 2006 U.S. Open Colin Montgomerie led the field with an opening 69 and with American Aaron Oberholser shooting a day two.

Five players who the finished inside the top-6, and there were 11 players, shot final rounds of 69.

Now in the very first round and 16-years on from ‘Massacre 2’, Thomas has produced the lowest score in 91-years.

“It was a good day for me from the start,” said Thomas who grabbed six birdies and had just the lone bogey.

“I’ve just played really, really solidly. Hit a lot of really quality tee shots. Only had a few squirrely ones, it felt like. The few greens I missed, I hit great bunker shots to give myself good par chances.

“Yeah, it was a really, really solid round of golf. It’s one of the best rounds I’ve played in a while tee to green.

“There are a couple things here and there that definitely could have been better, but I made sure all of my misses were in the right spot, and that’s what you have to do at a U.S. Open.

“A 65 is fun no matter where you play, especially at Winged Foot. It was. It just was — I was in a really good frame of mind, and I was focused.

“I was just was sticking to my routine and playing every shot, as opposed to getting ahead of myself. It’s one of those rounds where it’s just kind of like, next thing you know, you make the putt on 18, you’re done for the day.”

Thomas has just one top-10 finish in five U.S. Open starts but arrived at Winged Foot brimming with confidence as he is fresh off a 2019-20 season in which he earned three PGA Tour wins and finished runner-up at the Tour Championship.



Comments are closed.