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U.S. Open: Justin Thomas sets record in first round

By Tim Letcher

MAMARONECK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 17: Justin Thomas of the United States plays his shot from the 12th tee during the first round of the 120th U.S. Open Championship on September 17, 2020 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
MAMARONECK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 17: Justin Thomas of the United States plays his shot from the 12th tee during the first round of the 120th U.S. Open Championship on September 17, 2020 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Justin Thomas shot a 5-under par 65 on Thursday at Winged Foot to grab the lead in the U.S. Open. In the process, he set a record.

Earlier this week, Justin Thomas said that Winged Foot, site of this week’s U.S. Open, was the hardest golf course he had ever played. Then Thursday, Thomas went out and conquered it.

Thomas opened play in the 2020 U.S. Open with a 5-under par 65 to take a one-shot lead over Thomas Peiters, Patrick Reed and Matthew Wolff. Rory McIlroy, Louis Oosthuizen and Lee Westwood are each two shots back.

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The round started in fine fashion for Thomas, who birdied the par-4 first hole. However, after a par on the second hole, Thomas would bogey number three to slip back to even par on his round.

Pars on the fourth and fifth hole followed before Thomas got back into red figures with a birdie on the par-4 sixth hole. Thomas would par the seventh and eighth holes before closing his front nine with a birdie on the par-5 ninth hole. Thomas carded a 2-under par 33 on his first nine.

As the back nine started, Thomas was able to carry the momentum from his front side over. He birdied the par-3 10th hole, then birdied the par-4 11th to get to 4-under par. Suddenly, Thomas’ round went from good to outstanding.

The steady Thomas would keep his round going with six consecutive pars, on holes 12 through 17. He would come to the tough 18th hole still at 4-under par.

Thomas closed his round out in style. He would birdie the 18th hole to get to 5-under par on his round.

Just how good is that score? The last time the U.S. Open was played at Winged Foot in 2006, the best round of the tournament was a 69. Thomas topped that by four shots on the first day. In fact, the 65 was the best score ever recorded at Winged Foot in the U.S. Open.

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Thomas, the former world number one, is coming off a disappointing run in the FedEx Cup playoffs. He entered the postseason with a chance to win his second FedEx Cup, but he fell well short as Dustin Johnson dominated the postseason.

The Louisville, Kentucky, native is trying to win his second major championship title. He claimed the 2017 PGA Championship and would love to add a U.S. Open to his resume. If he continues to play like he did on Thursday, that could certainly happen by the time this event is over.

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