Big Day for Jason in PGA
Australian takes 54-hole lead with Spieth, Grace and Rose in hot pursuit
AUSTRALIAN Jason Day used a red-hot run around the turn and a solid finish to seize a two-shot lead over Jordan Spieth with South Africa’s Branden Grace one stroke further back after a pulsating third round of low scoring at the PGA Championship on Saturday.
In pursuit of his first Major victory after several close calls over the past five years, Day carded 66 in receptive conditions at Whistling Straits to post a 15-under total of 201.
The world No 5 picked up six shots in six holes from the ninth, including a 13-foot eagle putt at the 11th, and later rebounded from a double-bogey at the 15th by draining a curling 24-footer at the 17th.
He could not break clear of Masters and US Open champion Spieth, who reignited his hopes of a rare third Major victory this year by firing a bogey-free 65 on a hot and steamy afternoon highlighted by birdies galore.
“Today was a good day,” said Day, who has recorded nine top10 finishes in the Majors, six of them in the top four. “There was some mistakes here and there, but overall I hit a lot of good quality iron shots, hit a lot of great drives out there, drove the ball really well. I’m very pleased with how I’m putting.”
English world No6 Justin Rose (68) was a further stroke back at 12-under alongside Grace, who spectacularly holed out from a greenside bunker to birdie the last and card a best- of-the-day 64.
Germany’s Martin Kaymer, winner of the 2010 PGA Championship played at Whistling Straits and paired with Grace on Saturday, drained three long birdie putts to shoot 65 and pull within four shots on a day when the scoring average was 70.6.
Unheralded Australian Matt Jones, two ahead after the storm-delayed second round finished earlier on Saturday, briefly moved three strokes clear before dropping four shots in the final four holes for a 73 and a tie for sixth. Jones had led by three standing on the ninth tee but bogeyed the hole after pulling his tee shot into a hospitality area well left of the fairway.
“I didn’t play great today ... golf runs like that, and it got me in the end,” said Jones, who won his first PGA Tour title at last year’s Houston Open.
Day’s lead was a tenuous one considering the man in second place.
“On the back nine, it was nice to get in the zone,” said world No2 Spieth, who was seeking to emulate fellow Americans Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods as the only players in the modern era to have won three majors in a single year.
“I want to get my name on a different Major, and it’s a goal of mine to capture all four throughout my career,” he said.
Besides Grace, three other South Africans played well through 54 holes. George Coetzee was tied 13th on 209 after a 70, Charl Schwartzel was in a share of 17th place on 210 following a 68, and Ernie Els was tied 24th on 211 after a 69.