BMW Championship R3

Home > Viktor Hovland > BMW Championship R3
Justin Thomas shatters course record to open up 6-stroke lead at Medinah
Posted on
August 18, 2019
by
The Editorial Team in ,
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

August 15-18
Medinah CC (No. 3), Medinah, Illinois
$9,250,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 4


Justin Thomas took command of the BMW Championship with a superb 11-under 61 to shatter the Medinah course record and open up a six-stroke lead heading into the final round.


The American had produced a first-round 65 in Illinois to equal the record along with Jason Kokrak, before Japanese player Hideki Matsuyama then shot an impressive nine-under-par 63 on Friday.

However, while Matsuyama faltered with a bogey-heavy 73 to drop out of contention at 11-under, Thomas signed for a 61 - which included two eagles and could have been even lower but for a dropped shot at the par-four sixth.

The world number 10, USPGA Championship winner two years ago, heads into Sunday at 21-under, with compatriots Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay in joint second place after their respective 68s.

"It's just one of those freaky days when you get in the zone," Thomas told the Golf Channel.

"I hit the ball pretty unbelievable. It's not like I made any long putts. I hit it close to the hole and took advantage of some opportunities when I had them and got a couple good breaks.


"That's the stuff that happens when you shoot 11 under."

Slovakian Rory Sabbatini sits at 14-under following a 67, picking up six birdies on the back nine.

Spain's Jon Rham was a big mover after a 66 left him at 13-under, one clear of American Brandt Snedeker, who is in a group on 12-under with Rickie Fowler a stroke further back after a 68.

Tiger Woods, meanwhile, sank five birdies for his 67 after successive rounds of 71 to climb to seven-under.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy is at 10-under after a 70, alongside Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who hit a double-bogey five on the second hole before recovering.

World number one Brooks Koepka dropped down the standings after a 72, two bogeys leaving him at five-under overall.

England's Justin Rose shot a 73 and fell back to two-under, but compatriot Paul Casey's 67 saw him climb to nine-under.


Pos.
Player
Nat
To Par
R1
R2
R3
Total
1
Justin Thomas
USA
-21
65
69
61
195
T2
Tony Finau
USA
-15
67
66
68
201
T2
Patrick Cantlay
USA
-15
66
67
68
201
4
Rory Sabbatini
SVK
-14
67
68
67
202
5
Jon Rahm
ESP
-13
68
69
66
203
T6
Brandt Snedeker
USA
-12
66
71
67
204
T6
Corey Conners
CAN
-12
69
66
69
204
T6
Lucas Glover
USA
-12
66
69
69
204
T9
Rickie Fowler
USA
-11
67
70
68
205
T9
Kevin Kisner
USA
-11
68
68
69
205
T9
Xander Schauffele
USA
-11
67
68
70
205
T9
Hideki Matsuyama
JPN
-11
69
63
73
205
T13
Joel Dahmen
USA
-10
66
71
69
206
T13
Rory McIlroy
NIR
-10
69
67
70
206
T13
Kevin Tway
USA
-10
69
67
70
206
T13
Tommy Fleetwood
ENG
-10
70
66
70
206
T13
Adam Hadwin
CAN
-10
67
68
71
206
T18
Gary Woodland
USA
-9
70
73
64
207
T18
Wyndham Clark
USA
-9
69
73
65
207
T18
Paul Casey
ENG
-9
70
70
67
207
T18
Patrick Reed
USA
-9
68
71
68
207
T18
Louis Oosthuizen
RSA
-9
70
69
68
207
T18
Adam Scott
AUS
-9
67
71
69
207
T24
J. T. Poston
USA
-8
68
74
66
208
T24
Sung-Jae Im
KOR
-8
70
72
66
208
T24
Joaquin Niemann
CHI
-8
74
65
69
208
T24
Cheng Tsung Pan
TPE
-8
71
67
70
208
T24
Jason Kokrak
USA
-8
65
73
70
208
T24
Max Homa
USA
-8
70
67
71
208
T24
Si-Woo Kim
KOR
-8
70
67
71
208
T31
Webb Simpson
USA
-7
70
72
67
209
T31
Tiger Woods
USA
-7
71
71
67
209
T31
Abraham Ancer
USA
-7
68
72
69
209
T31
Ryan Moore
USA
-7
71
69
69
209
T31
Chez Reavie
USA
-7
67
68
74
209
T36
Vaughn Taylor
USA
-6
73
70
67
210
T36
Emiliano Grillo
ARG
-6
72
70
68
210
T36
Marc Leishman
AUS
-6
72
71
67
210
T36
Byeong-Hun An
KOR
-6
71
70
69
210
T36
Jason Day
AUS
-6
70
71
69
210
T36
Scott Piercy
USA
-6
67
73
70
210
T36
Ryan Palmer
USA
-6
68
72
70
210
T43
Keegan Bradley
USA
-5
69
74
68
211
T43
Jordan Spieth
USA
-5
70
71
70
211
T43
Ian Poulter
ENG
-5
70
70
71
211
T43
Brooks Koepka
USA
-5
68
71
72
211
T47
Phil Mickelson
USA
-4
70
73
69
212
T47
Dylan Frittelli
RSA
-4
72
69
71
212
T47
Collin Morikawa
USA
-4
67
73
72
212
T47
Charles Howell III
USA
-4
70
69
73
212
T51
Keith Mitchell
USA
-3
72
74
67
213
T51
Francesco Molinari
ITA
-3
72
73
68
213
T51
Billy Horschel
USA
-3
71
73
69
213
T51
Bryson DeChambeau
USA
-3
71
71
71
213
T51
Adam Long
USA
-3
72
70
71
213
T51
Andrew Putnam
USA
-3
71
69
73
213
T51
Jim Furyk
USA
-3
66
72
75
213
T58
Shane Lowry
IRL
-2
72
74
68
214
T58
Dustin Johnson
USA
-2
70
72
72
214
T58
Graeme McDowell
NIR
-2
69
72
73
214
T58
Justin Rose
ENG
-2
68
73
73
214
T58
Matt Kuchar
USA
-2
71
70
73
214
T63
Nate Lashley
USA
-1
72
73
70
215
T63
Sung-Hoon Kang
KOR
-1
69
73
73
215
T63
Rafael Cabrera Bello
ESP
-1
69
72
74
215
T66
Troy Merritt
USA
Par
69
76
71
216
T66
J. B. Holmes
USA
Par
69
71
76
216
T68
Harold Varner III
USA
1
72
74
71
217
T68
Cameron Champ
USA
1
71
68
78
217
The Editorial Team Avatar

About The Editorial Team

The editorial team at Golf Today strives to provide readers with captivating content that celebrates the rich heritage and exciting developments in the world of golf. Their collective expertise and dedication ensure that Golf Today remains a premier destination for golf enthusiasts seeking the latest news, insightful analysis, and engaging stories from the world of golf.

Join the discussion

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read Next

Zebra

Simon Millington interview

CEO Golf Brands Inc.
Lauren Coughlin hit from the bunker on the eighth green during the first round at the Chevron Championship

Lauren Coughlin leading by two at the Chevron Championship

Defending champion Lilia Vu withdrew moments before tee-off due to a back injury.
magnifiercrossmenuchevron-downcross-circle
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram