ERIN, Wis. — Justin Thomas sat on the end of his golf bag, like a hiker resting on a log, and extended his arms. As he suspected, they were shaking. With 8 feet left to navigate on Erin Hills’s undulating 7,741-yard layout, Thomas had United States Open history in his sights and food on his mind.
For the last few holes of his third round, Thomas’s hunger to contend for his first major championship had superseded his physical famishment. Caught up in a birdie binge, Thomas forgot to eat. On the 18th hole, he had an eagle putt for a nine-under-par 63, and all Thomas could think about was dinner.