Jason Day of Australia, fighting the effects of vertigo, holed a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to tie Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Branden Grace of South Africa for the lead heading to the final round of the 115th U.S. Open at Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place, Wash.
The gutsy Aussie, who almost quit three times during his round according to caddie Colin Swatton, had five birdies on the back nine including three on the last four holes to close out a 2-under-par 68.
“I didn’t feel that great coming out early,” said Day, who has finished second three times in majors, including the 2011 and 2013 U.S. Opens. “I felt pretty groggy on the front nine just from the drugs that I had in my system, then kind of flushed that out on the back nine.
“But then it kind of came back a little bit on the 13th tee box, (but) then I felt nauseous all day. I started shaking on 16 tee box and then I just tried to (finish). I just wanted to get through today and see what happens (on Sunday).”
Spieth, the Masters champion, had a three-stroke lead early in the third round after making long birdie putts on the second and third holes, but had five bogeys the rest of the way and shot 71.
Johnson, seeking his first title in the Grand Slam events after experiencing plenty of major disappointment, also had a three-shot lead after collecting three birdies on the front nine, but took a double bogey 6 on the 13th on his way to a 70.
Grace, whom countryman Ernie Els said before the tournament started had the best chance of the South Africans to win, earned his share of the lead with a birdie on the 15th hole and also wound up at 70.
Louis Oosthuizen, another South African and the 2010 Open Championship winner at St. Andrews, carded a second straight 66 after opening with a 77 and was three shots back in a tie for fifth with J.B. Holmes, who totaled 71 that included an eagle when he holed a bunker shot on the 16th hole, Cameron Smith of Australia, who wound up at 69, and Shane Lowry of Ireland, who came in at 70.
Henrik Stenson, trying to become the first Swedish man to captured a golf major, shot 72 and was five strokes behind in a tie for ninth with Brandt Snedeker (70), Andres Romero (71) of Argentina, Tony Finau (74), Joost Luiten (74) of the Netherlands and Patrick Reed (76).
Top-ranked Rory McIlroy shot 70 and was tied for 25th, while Phil Mickelson, seeking his first U.S. Open title to complete the Career Grand Slam, struggled to a 77 and fell out of contention in a tie for 66th.
