Rickie Fowler has been in resurgent form over the past year and he carried it into this week's US Open with an historic round of 62 at Los Angeles Country Club.
The American became the first player in US Open history to shoot 62 and the first man to ever make ten birdies in a single round at a US Open, and then Xander Schauffele went and matched him less than half an hour later.
World No.45 Fowler, who is playing in his first US Open since 2020, and Schauffele, who has five top-sevens and a T14 in six US Open starts, matched Branden Grace to become the only men to shoot 62 in Major championship history.
Grace became the first 62-shooter at Royal Birkdale in the 2017 Open Championship.
Fowler began on the back nine and opened up with a birdie on the par 4 10th hole and was out in 32, three-under-par, thanks to five birdies and two dropped shots.
The five-time PGA Tour winner, who was T2nd at the 2014 US Open, caught fire on his back nine with five birdies and four pars. He birdied the 18th at LACC to reach three-under, his first of four in a row to reach six-under-par after 12 holes.
Rickie Fowler is SEVEN-under-par at the US Open pic.twitter.com/bsIVS3APZ1June 15, 2023
He finished it off with a birdie on the short par 4 6th and another at the par 5 8th hole.
Schauffele's 62 was bogey-free, with the Californian making three birdies on his front nine (the back nine) and five birdies on the way home.
Both men have put himself in prime position to challenge for the US Open trophy this weekend at LACC.
Fowler seeks his first worldwide win since the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open. He has come close at Majors many times in the past, notably in 2014 when he finished inside the top-five at all four Majors - the first man in history to achieve that feat.
Schauffele currently ranks sixth in the world and is looking for his first Major victory this week after ten Major top-10s since 2017.
"Yeah, Rick's awesome," Schauffele said. "He's truly probably one of the nicest guys out here. I mean that when I say it. And I couldn't be happier for him to see him in good form. I've played -- being a Florida a little bit more now, I've played some games with him, and he's just a pleasure to be around.
"It's not surprising to see him shoot 8-under, either. I'm happy that he's able get back into good form and can compete at a high level."
Previous lowest round in US Open history
- 63 (9 under) Justin Thomas, third round, Erin Hills 2017
- 63 (8 under) Johnny Miller, fourth round, Oakmont 1973
- 63 (7 under) Jack Nicklaus, first round, Baltusrol G.C. (Lower Course) 1980
- 63 (7 under) Tom Weiskopf, first round, Baltusrol G.C. (Lower Course) 1980
- 63 (7 under) Vijay Singh, second round, Olympia Fields 2003
- 63 (7 under) Tommy Fleetwood, fourth round, Shinnecock Hills 2018
-
Rory McIlroy Reunited With Old Clubs After Near $1000 Uber RideThe four-time Major winner switched back to his old clubs at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, with the Uber trip to get them costing a near $1000
-
The Incredible Numbers Behind Justin Thomas' Historic Second Round At The Players ChampionshipThe American produced an incredible second round at the famous TPC Sawgrass, with Thomas rewriting a number of records on Friday
-
How Michael Kim Proved Rickie Fowler's 'Play Better' Statement RightLast year, Michael Kim was outside of the World's top-150 and rarely playing in Signature Events, but recent good play has dramatically changed his prospects
-
'Got My A** Kicked' - Xander Schauffele Has Tough Return To Action At Bay HillXander Schauffele admitted he "got my a** kicked" by Bay Hill as he struggled in his first round back from a rib injury
-
Rickie Fowler Set For PGA Tour Return After WM Phoenix Open WithdrawalThe six-time PGA Tour winner clarified why he pulled out of last week's WM Phoenix Open and confirmed when his next start will be
-
Rickie Fowler Withdraws From WM Phoenix OpenThe American pulled out of the event at TPC Scottsdale prior to round two, having carded a three-over 74 on Thursday
-
Reporter Shares Xander Schauffele Injury Details And Says World No.2 Has Been Struggling 'Since Late Last Year'Golf Channel reporter Todd Lewis shared details on the World No.2's injury situation which caused Schauffele to withdraw from two recent PGA Tour events
-
Xander Schauffele Withdraws From American Express Days After Scottie SchefflerThe PGA Tour announced on Monday evening that the World No.2 was no longer in the American Express field and had been replaced by Philip Knowles
-
Scheffler Vs Schauffele Vs McIlroy: How The Stats CompareRory McIlroy said Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele have ‘separated themselves’ so we looked at the stats…
-
What Else Does Xander Schauffele Need To Do In Order To Win Player Of The Year? The World No.2 Has An Idea...The World No.2 won two Major championships over the past 12 months, but even still, he admitted Scottie Scheffler stood head and shoulders above the rest...
