Back in 1974, one year after Miller famously posted a final-round 63 to win at Oakmont, USGA president Sandy Tatum presided over what became known as "The Massacre at Winged Foot", which Hale Irwin won with a score of 7-over par.
He made the eagle to get his name in the record book Saturday.
Brian Harman stood on the podium with hands on hips, giving answers in the kind of matter-of-fact voice expected from someone used to the spotlight of a major championship.
Harman now stands at 12-under-par for the tournament but is being followed closely by Justin Thomas, Brooks Koepka and Tommy Fleetwood.
June 18 The U.S. Open has traditionally had a reputation as the toughest test in golf, but benign conditions have turned this week's championship into a birdie-fest, much to the lament of former champion Johnny Miller. Thomas admitted that as he walked up the 18th fairway Saturday afternoon, he wasn't aware that he was on the verge of history.
The second is this fantastic approach shot on the 18th to set him up with an eight-foot putt for eagle and the new U.S. Open record. "U.S. Opens aren't supposed to be played under par!" they'll scream right before telling the neighbor kids to get off their lawns. Yet, he had a tournament-high - for him - five birdies Saturday, including a late stretch where he birdied three out of four holes.
The 33-year-old Australian bagged three birdies during his opening nine holes and sits just one shot back of the lead at Erin Hills in Wisconsin as he enters the back nine.
When you have a win, a second, two thirds and six top-10 finishes in 14 starts, it's hard to see how someone can be said to be off his game but such has been the success rate in Spieth's four-plus years on the PGA Tour that such a season would be a letdown.
Fowler, sharing a house with Thomas this week, was being left behind until he ran off three straight birdies and shot 68. Just short in two on the par-5 home hole, his poorly-struck chip came up well short.
"To have a chance tomorrow is just going to be great", said Thomas.
"I've got a good plan for this course".
Harman takes the lead at US open
The soft, forgiving conditions created opportunity for major movement up the leaderboard for those players willing to take it. His eagle came on the 667-yard 18th, as Thomas hit a 330-yard drive, then knocked his 3-wood to 8 feet and made the putt.
"When he's gotten out of position, he's done a really good job of getting back in position", Harman's caddie, Scott Tway, said.
If his hot pink trousers were not enough, Thomas finished in style. He had 310 yards to the hole when he hit a 3-wood that could have led to big trouble if he went too far long or left.
"Oh my gosh, Jimmy, be good", Thomas said.
On Saturday, Justin Thomas tied the record for the best round at a major by shooting 63.
"The finish was awesome".
"I was glad to hang in there especially playing in the last group", he said.
He might need one at this rate. Not surprisingly given the obvious strength his game, a weather forecast predicting strong winds for the final round provoked nothing more than a wry smile from the native of the coastal town of Southport, host to next month's Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
"It means I'm a part of history". "It means I have a lot better chance to win the tournament than I did when the day started". "It was downwind to where I knew if I hit it solid, I could definitely get it there". "I've pictured winning the U.S. Open a lot of times before". Then he picked up a birdie on 12 with a 9-footer.
No. 15, 288 yards, par 4: 3-wood to 6 feet. He sank 11-foot putts for birdies on both 14 and 15 and drained a 26-footer for a birdie on 17. "I was just happy that I was the one that was able to take advantage of it today".
But the work is not done. He became the first player to reach 13 under at the U.S. Open in the second round, but double-bogeyed 18 to close at 11 under and with a six-shot lead.
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