ERIN—Brian Harman has spent two years flying under the radar at major championships but was comfortable in his unaccustomed perch on top of the US Open leaderboard on Saturday.
The little-known 30-year-old from Savannah Georgia arrived in Erin Hills with low expectations given his form in majors.
He missed the Masters in April and did not play in any of last years four majors.
In the four majors before that, during the 2015 season, he missed the cut in each tournament. He had never made the cut in a US Open until this week.
“First cut made too. So we’re breaking down all kinds of barriers,” Harman joked on Saturday after a five-under-par 67 that left him one shot clear of the field heading into Sunday’s final round.
Harman took advantage of soft conditions to reel off six birdies against only one bogey to finish the day on 12 under after 54 holes.
“I’m proud of the way I hung in there today,” Harman said afterwards. “I got off to a pretty good start, which I really haven’t done yet, so that was nice.
“Struck it well, had a couple putts that could have gone that didn’t, but had a bunch of looks, hit a bunch of greens. That’s what you’ve got to do to play well around here.”
Harman, ranked 50th in the world, has spent much of his professional career toiling in the shadows.
He joined the PGA Tour in 2012, winning his first tournament in 2014. It was not until this year however at last month’s Wells Fargo Championship that he won his second, in his 172nd event.
Harman said he hopes to use the memory of that win — which saw him beat Dustin Johnson by one shot — as he prepares for Sunday’s final round.
“I’ll draw on some of the preparations I did for that week,” Harman said. “Just kind of how I felt that morning before, because I remember specifically I kind of dealt with those emotions.
“Everyone has doubts, everyone has fears. For me, just trying to figure out what they are, and kind of rationalize them and deal with them.”
Meanwhile, Rickie Fowler is confident of “getting the job done” after resurrecting his hopes of a maiden major at the US Open on Saturday.
The 28-year-world number nine got off to a flying start on Thursday with a seven-under-par 65 but saw his momentum falter on Friday with one-over-par 73.
On Saturday, Fowler exploited the benign conditions at Erin Hills to haul himself back into the frame.
A four-under-par 68 left him at 10 under heading into the final Sunday, two behind the lead.
While Fowler still has ground to make up, he was pleased with a strong finish that saw him pick up strokes with three birdies on the 14th, 15th and 16th.
“It’s going to be a really cool day for someone tomorrow,” said Fowler, who has posted six top-10 finishes in majors during his career, including a second place finish at the 2014 US Open.
“I’m looking forward to my shot at it, I know it’s not going to be an easy day, for sure,” Fowler said.
“I’ve been there a handful of times and had some good finishes. But I’m looking forward to getting the job done.”
Fowler agreed that the wide open leaderboard — none of the top 16 players have won a major — made it anyone’s title to win.
“A lot of young guys, lot of great players,” he said. “Someone has a very good chance of ending up with their first major tomorrow.”
Fowler is also buoyed by the knowledge that his biggest tournament wins have usually come when he has emerged from the field — even though that can increase the pressure to pick up shots.
“My wins have been from behind,” he said. “It’s sometimes nice being out front because you can afford to make a mistake.
“But I’ll take exactly where I’m at. This was the goal going into the week to put ourselves in position to be in contention on Sunday. Whether that was two back, two up front or tied for the lead – let’s go.”