Spieth Just 2 Behind Day After Round 3 Of PGA Championship
WISCONSIN (AP/CBSLA.com) — With six straight 3s on his card, Jason Day looked determined as ever Saturday to finally get that first major. He had a 6-under 66 and built a two-shot lead in the PGA Championship, the third straight major he has at least a share of the lead going into the final round.
One look at the leaderboard at the name right behind him — Jordan Spieth — made it clear it won't be easy.
Spieth was five shots behind with two holes to play when he capped off a stunning charge along the back nine at Whistling Straits. He finished with three straight birdies for a 7-under 65 to get into the final group.
"Very pleased to have a chance to win another major," Spieth said.
He is trying to join Tiger Woods (2000) and Ben Hogan (1953) as the only players to win three majors in one year, and Spieth hopes to rely on his experience of having already won the Masters and U.S. Open this year.
Day showed plenty of moxie, though.
The 27-year-old Australian played a six-hole stretch around the turn in 6 under, which included a 15-foot eagle at No. 11. When he stuffed another approach close on the 14th hole, he was 16 under and starting to pull away.
One swing changed everything. He tugged his approached into a bunker left of the 15th green, took two shots to get out and made double bogey right about the time Spieth shifted into another gear.
And then Day caught a tough lie through the green on the par-5 16th and failed to make birdie. Instead of getting down, he answered with a 25-foot birdie putt on the 17th and was at 15-under 201.
This is hardly a two-man race.
Branden Grace of South Africa, tied for the lead with three holes to play in the U.S. Open when he hit a tee shot out-of-bounds onto the train tracks at Chambers Bay, holed a bunker shot for birdie on the 18th hole for a 64.
He was three shots behind, along with Justin Rose, who had a double bogey and still shot 68. And still in the mix was Martin Kaymer after his 65, leaving him four shots behind and with plenty of good vibes about his playoff win at Whistling Straits five years ago.
Spieth has already won two major titles this year, and is looking for his third heading into the final round of play on Sunday.
Spieth's sponsor, Under Armour, has done incredibly well after Spieth's two previous wins.
Jordan Spieth's 2 major titles this year were wins for Under Armour: http://t.co/QsPf9kEMLIpic.twitter.com/rZ34OD5imy
— Forbes (@Forbes) August 14, 2015
Spieth and Day will be paired together in the final group on Sunday.
Three. Straight. Birdies. Jordan Spieth is two back. #QuickHits http://t.co/L8pX7jyR3d
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 15, 2015
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