front nine

Thomas set the pace with six birdies on the front nine, before he recovered from a bogey on the 10th by hitting five birdies in six holes on the back nine.

Fellow American Will Zalatoris looked superb on the front nine and held a share of the lead for some time only to completely unravel on the way home and plummet from 11 under par to two under.

A bogey-free front nine on Sunday was completed in two under par but a big finish was still required.

Rahm had surged ahead with a five-under 31 on the front nine.

The unfamiliar winds of the first two days undid the maxim that scores are made on the front nine and retained, if you are good enough, on the ultra-challenging inward half.