Shane Lowry was inches away from becoming the first golfer in history to shoot 61 at a major championship on Saturday.
The 2019 Open champion and Ryder Cup hero stormed into contention in round three with a stunning nine-under par 62.
Nobody has ever shot 61 in a major – and Lowry had an 11-foot putt on the 18th hole to card the lowest-ever round at one of golf’s four biggest events.
The Irishman’s effort slid just past the hole, sparking an agonised reaction, but he still found himself with the clubhouse lead on 13-under par, with Xander Schauffele one shot ahead on the course.
“It feels pretty good,” Lowry said. “To be honest I would have liked it if I went one lower and I’m disappointed to miss it, but I went out with a job to get myself back in the tournament and I did that.”
Ironically, it was Lowry’s putter which did most of the damage at Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky before the miss on 18.
The 37-year-old gained an astonishing 6.4 strokes on the field with the flat stick despite being ranked 168th on the PGA Tour for putting this season.
Watching highlights of the 160ft of putts he made on Saturday, Lowry said: “My God I did hole a few putts today.
“It’s been a long time since I have seen this so I’m not going to apologise for it. It felt similar to the third round (63) when I won the Open.
“When I holed that putt on 14 I thought if I could get to 18 on eight under I could eagle the last – I was aware of the chance to shoot 61 from a long way out.”
It is the fifth 62 in a major championship following Branden Grace at the 2017 Open, Schauffele and Rickie Fowler at the 2023 US Open, and Schauffele again at this year’s PGA Championship.
Lowry was playing alongside Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose, who also put himself in contention with a brilliant round of 64.
“Rosey and I got off to a great start and we fed off each other,” Lowry said. “We were egging each other on.
“It will take a lot of the same [to win] tomorrow, somebody could come from behind as the course is gettable.
“I’m going to enjoy what I did today and go out tomorrow and fight hard and give my best to win this trophy.”