JUSTIN THOMAS Picture: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Justin Thomas has made a mockery of Medinah Country Club during a stunning course record 61 that set up a six-shot lead going into the final round of the BMW Championship.
Thomas compiled a sensational round that started with five-straight birdies, before bagging two eagles on the back nine.
One of the eagles came when the 26-year-old holed an approach shot from the 16th fairway.
Thomas mixed another three birdies with a lone bogey to shatter the course record one day after Hideki Matsuyama set it with a 63.
It was Thomas's second-best round on the PGA Tour after the 59 he shot in the first round of his 2017 Sony Open victory.
Thomas finished 54 holes at Chicago's 7,600-yard Medinah at 21-under-par 195, with Tony Finau and Patrick Cantlay (both 68) sharing second at 15 under.
Thomas is in search of his 10th PGA Tour victory and first in 12 months.
It also would give him the FedEx Cup lead going into the Tour Championship next week at East Lake.
Australians Adam Scott, Jason Day and Marc Leishman all had respectable under-par rounds on Saturday but were left in Thomas's wake.
Scott's 69 left him at nine under and 12 behind Thomas, while Tiger Woods sits seven under courtesy of a 67.
Leishman (67) and Day (69) sit at six under.
The start of the final round has been moved up and golfers will play in threesomes off two tees due to more rain expected overnight and early on Sunday, and possible afternoon thunderstorms.
