University Place (Washington, US), June 21 (IANS) Australian Jason Day battled lingering symptoms of vertigo to share the lead with Americans Jordan Spieth, the reigning Masters champion, and Dustin Johnson and South African Branden Grace after the third round of the 115th US Open at the par-70 Chambers Bay here.
World No.10 Day, who collapsed on the final hole of the second round Friday, battled lingering unsteadiness throughout the Saturday afternoon as well as fatigue caused by a battery of medications to end the day with a 68. He has a 54-hole total of four-under 206.
“I felt nauseous all day,” said Day, who somehow managed to birdie 10th, 12th, 15th, 17th and 18th holes when it was obvious he was struggling to finish, even fumbling with the ball as he tried to replace it on the green for his final putt of the day. Two-time runner-up at the US Open, Day dropped shots on the second, fourth and 11th.
“I just tried to get it in,” said 27-year-old Day, who carded one of six under rounds when the field averaged 73.133, and was bettered only by Louis Oosthuizen’s 66 on the 7,497-yard course, the longest in US Open history.
World No.2 Spieth, bidding to become the sixth golfer to win the Masters and US Open in the same year, followed up his 68 and 67 with a one-over 71.
World No. 7 Johnson, who shared the opening round lead with Henrik Stenson of Sweden, carded 70, while world No.40 Grace got a par score.
South African Oosthuizen, Cameron Smith of Australia, Irish Shane Lowry, J.B. Holmes were tied fifth on three-day total of one-under 209.
As many as six golfers — joint overnight leader Patrick Reed, Brandt Snedeker, Argentina’s Andres Romero, Stenson, Tony Finau and Joost Luiten are at the ninth spot with one-over 211 as total.
World No.1 Rory McIlroy is at joint 25th spot with 214 as total, while Phil Mickelson, seeking the Open title to complete the career Grand Slam, was at tied 66th. Four-time Major winner Ernie Els of South Africa was at the joint 58th spot.
Indian golfers Shiv Kapur and Anirban Lahiri exited the competition as they missed the halfway cut that fell at five-over 145 after the second round on Friday. It was the first instance when two Indians were playing at the second Major of the year.