Lowest Score, Last Two Rounds of U.S. Open

What are the lowest scores in U.S. Open history for the final two rounds? We're talking about the golfers who scored the best for the final 36 holes — their combined scores for the third and fourth rounds of this major championship.

The best-ever score over the last two rounds of a U.S. Open is 132. That score was made by Larry Nelson, and going that low is what won him the tournament in 1983. By the standards of U.S. Open tournament records, Nelson's record has stood for quite a long time — more than 40 years now.

The List: Lowest Scores, Last 36 Holes, U.S. Open

• 132 — Larry Nelson (65-67), 10-under, Oakmont Country Club, 1983
• 133 — Jason Day (65-68), 9-under, Congressional Country Club (Blue Course), 2011
• 133 — Chip Beck (68-65), 7-under, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, 1986
• 133 — Louis Oosthuizen (66-67), 7-under, Chambers Bay, 2015
• 133 — Tommy Fleetwood (70-63), 7-under, Los Angeles Country Club (North Course), 2023
• 134 — Loren Roberts (64-70), 8-under, Oakmont Country Club, 1994

Oakmont has a fearsome reputation, especially as it is set up for U.S. Open play, but two of the golfers on the list (Nelson, Roberts) posted their scores in Oakmont Opens.

Nelson is the recordholder, and also the only golfer on the list whose great final two rounds propelled him to victory. In that 1983 U.S. Open, Nelson played the first two rounds in 148 (75-73). He was seven strokes off the mid-point lead. But Nelson improved his score by 16 shots over the last 36 holes, scoring 65 in the third round and 67 in the fourth round. His third-round 65 was the lowest score of that round by four strokes. And his final-round 67 was also the low score of that round.

Nelson wound up winning by one stroke over defending champion Tom Watson.

Roberts tied for the lead after 72 holes but lost in a playoff at the 1994 U.S. Open. Day finished solo second in the 2011 U.S. Open, albeit eight strokes behind Rory McIlroy. Beck in 1986 and Oosthuizen in 2015 both tied for second place. And Fleetwood finished tied fifth in 2023.

Related articles:

• Lowest score, first two rounds of U.S. Open
• Worst single-hole score in a U.S. Open
• Oldest winners of the U.S. Open

Sources:
EuropeanTour.com. U.S. Open, 1983 Results, https://www.europeantour.com/dpworld-tour/u-s-open-1983/results.
United States Golf Association. U.S. Open History, U.S. Open Records, https://victory.usopen.com/history-landing/scoring-and-stats/records.html.