Harman Leads Open by One; Course Too Easy?
Sunday, June 18, 2017

    Johnny Miller (he's not part of the announcing team) was the first analyst to suggest that Erin Hills is not a true U. S. Open venue, and the stats certainly back him up. There are 68 players still in it, and 42 are under par - that's 62 percent - and that's not the norm when it comes to the Open. The long hitters are taking advantage of the wide fairways and the scores reflect it. Justin Thomas breaks the Open record with a 9-under 63 on Saturday - it doesn't happen. 

    The top 15 on the board broke par yesterday and it was amateur Cameron Champ, who's tied for 17th at 4 under, who provided the first over-par round, a 73. 

    Brian Harman sits atop the leaderboard at 12 under with a precarious one-stroke edge over Thomas, Seminole Brooks Koepka and Tommy Fleetwood. Rickie Fowler is another stroke back and there are 12 players in all within five strokes of the lead, which should make for an exciting finish today, unless someone breaks away with a spectacular round, as Thomas did. 

    However, the wind is howling today at Erin Hills, so low scores may be tough to come by. 

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