HONOLULU – Justin Thomas set the course record Thursday at Waialae Country Club with his 59, only the eighth sub-60 round in PGA Tour history. Even then, the 23-year-old from Kentucky was cognizant that the tournament still had three rounds remaining, and he only had a three-shot lead.
He followed that with another burst of birdies around the turn and another eagle on his final hole, punching a 7-iron out of the light rough to run the ball up between two bunkers and onto the green about 8 feet below the cup.
He made the eagle putt for a 64, setting the 36-hole scoring record on the PGA Tour at 123 for a five-shot lead for a five-shot lead. Miguel Tabuena continued to defy the odds, adding an impressive five-under 65 to an opening 67 to make the weekend play with an eight-under 132 for a share of 13th, but still too far behind Thomas’ record 123.