Jason Day cards a 66 at the US Open to close on leaders
Branden Grace matches Aussie; Spieth fall away after bright start
Last Updated: 19/06/16 2:20am
World number one Jason Day moved into contention for a second major title with a superb third round of 66 at the US Open at Oakmont.
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The Australian, who claimed his first major title at the USPGA last year and has added six further titles since to cement his position at the top of the game.
And having recorded a six-over par 76 for his opening round he was fully 10 shots better on Saturday afternoon as he completed his third round to move through the field.
The 28-year-old finished at one-over par, six shots adrift of leader Shane Lowry who has four holes to play after darkness descended on Pittsburgh, but Day is pleased to have moved himself into contention.
"Tomorrow, I'm not sure what time the restart is for these guys, but -- 7am? So they're going to be waking up around 5am as well, play the rest of their holes," said Day.
"It's going to be warm tomorrow and then have to come back and play 18 holes in the afternoon. So that may -- obviously, it wouldn't, or it shouldn't, but it may have it physically and mentally a little bit tougher on those guys that have to come back and finish in the morning.
"Even par was the final score for me that I was trying to reach. I think Shane's playing some pretty good golf now. But I can't be aggressive out there and start firing at pin itself and making silly mental errors.
"If I can get to even par, great. If I can get to one-under, great. I've got to just kind of check the boxes and try and take them as they come. Hopefully, at the end of the day, I'm under par somewhere and that definitely gives me a shot, hopefully.
Day's round of 66 was matched by Branden Grace, the South African has slipped almost unnoticed through the field and having contending at Chambers Bay last year, he is likely to be in the hunt again on Sunday.
An excellent finish left him just four adrift of Lowry and Grace admits that the leaders form meant he had to go out and shoot the sort of numbers he he produced.
"The guys up there are playing some great golf. I thought they maybe would have come a little bit backwards, but I had to play maybe not 4 under but something just a little bit in that direction to get it close," he said.
"It's great, I stayed patient the whole day. Didn't go out there a helluva lot, but when I had the chances, I took them. It was a bonus finishing the way I did. The last stretch is not the easiest from 15 onwards. Two birdies in the last three is great. I'm in a good position to maybe put my hands on one tomorrow.
"I think the last two Majors have been great. Finishing this season, last year, and I've learned a lot from that. Obviously, the win at Hilton Head earlier in the year. I have lot of experience now, so I felt a little bit better out there. It's still a little bit of a different position.
"Last year, I was in the lead. This year, I'm chasing a little bit. So it's just you have to try not to get ahead of myself, just stay in the moment, stay positive and not forcing.
Jordan Spieth, the defending champion, threatened to move ominously into contention after starting from the 10th with three birdies in his opening four holes.
But it was not to be and a level par round left him four-over par for the tournament, some nine shots adrift of Lowry's lead and in the end he was left to reflect on what might have been.
"I got off to a dream start for moving day, and then just kind of boned a wedge, kind of put a bad swing on a pretty stock shot that killed momentum," Spieth said.
"I went double bogey, bogey. I played three holes at 4 over today with a wedge in my hand from the middle of the fairway. You're not going to be able to do anything at a US Open if you get the wedge opportunities and you play them over par.
"So felt like still really happy with the way we played after that, and come out tomorrow and try and pull a Johnny Miller.
"Those wedge opportunities are -- normally, out of those three, at least 1 under versus playing 4 over. That's five shots right there. I'd have shot 65. So I don't even know if that's what we need tomorrow. So I don't need to play any different, just hit my wedges a little closer. Just bad timing on a poorly executed shot