In addition to Streb’s Friday feat, Thomas Bjorn shot 63 at Baltusrol in the third round of the 2005 PGA and Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf each opened on 63 at Baltusrol in the 1980 US Open.
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Phil Mickelson completed a two-under 68 in his penultimate 18 holes at the US PGA Championship, before suggesting Baltusrol could play host to a record-breaking round this weekend.
Mickleson began his day with a bogey on No. 1 – an improvement from his triple bogey there Friday – and had another hiccup on No. 11, but poured in birdies Nos. Afternoon starter Hideki Matsuyama quickly joined his compatriot on three-under with a stunning eagle-two at the par-four second hole where he spun his approach shot into the cup. Jason Day and Emiliano Grillo, just two strokes back, will start at 2:45 p.m. EST.
That doesn’t mean second-round co-leaders Robert Streb and Jimmy Walker aren’t going to hold on to their position on Saturday and sleep on the lead going into the final round, but there is no reason for either player to feel comfortable.
And Mickelson, who missed a putt for a 62 at The Open earlier in July, said: “There’s a 61 or 62 out there because it’s par 70, the greens are pristine – they’re rolling beautifully – and they’re soft”. Mickelson and Henrik Stenson shots 63s this month in the British Open.
The world No 4 looked disconsolate when his chip for par veered left of the hole, and he tapped in for a bogey six and trudged off to sign for a 69 – three over for the tournament and one too many to make the cut.
Padraig Harrington survived the cut and finished one plus one over the two days.
Ben Polland of Deepdale Golf Club on Long Island shot a 3-over 73 to finish 5-over, Brian Gaffney of Quaker Ridge in Scarsdale wound up at 7-over after shooting a 3-over 73 and Fresh Meadow (L.I.) pro Matt Dobyns shot a 2-over-72 to end his tournament at 5-over.
The talk around the course was still about Robert Streb’s second-round 63 that had him tied for the lead with Jimmy Walker. Greg Norman and Vijay Singh both did it twice.
Walker followed an opening 65 that had him in the lead alone after the first round with a 66 to be at 9 under with Streb.
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Masters champion Danny Willett struggled and was three over through 16 holes. Only three of the top 12 players after the PGA’s second round had won a major – defending champion Jason Day, Stenson and Martin Kaymer.
