Friday 24 November 2017 08:22, UK
Jason Day defied tough conditions to move within one stroke of the halfway lead at the Emirates Australian Open, as Jordan Spieth was left rueing another poor rusty display.
Day carded a three-under 68 in strong afternoon winds at the Australian to get within one of midway pacesetter Lucas Herbert, with Spieth eight off the pace following a level-par 71.
Spieth was unable to make the most of the calmer morning conditions as he needed a final-hole bogey to avoid ending the day over par, with the defending champion sitting in a share of 19th.
Beginning the day three strokes off the pace, Day mixed three birdies with two bogeys in a front-nine 34 and cancelled out a blemish at the 11th with a run of gains over the back nine.
Day fired three straight birdies from the 12th and added a 20-foot gain at the 15th to briefly move into a share of the lead, before the world No 12 almost chipped in from off the next green.
The home favourite missed the 17th and posted a bogey but recovered from a wayward drive into a bunker at the last to scramble a par and stay at eight under.
Four birdies in the first eight holes helped Herbert to a joint-low round-of-the-day 66 and the clubhouse lead, with the recently-turned professional adding gains at the 14th and 16th before a final-hole bogey.
"I finished pretty high up last year in the Aussie Open (so) I can play well and I'm proving to myself that I can play well in these big events against these big players," Herbert said.
This week's event is the first of the 2018 Open Qualifying Series, with the leading three players who finish inside the top 10 and ties, and who are not already exempt, will book their spot for Carnoustie.
Overnight leader Cameron Davis holds third spot ahead of Anthony Quayle, with 2015 champion Matt Jones and 2016 runner-up Cameron Smith sharing fifth with Richard Green and Nick Cullen.
Watch the Emirates Australian Open throughout the weekend on Sky Sports Golf. Coverage continues with third-round highlights on Saturday at 9am and 3.30pm.
