US Open: Day grabs lead; McIlroy frustrated

Jason Day wrote his name into US Open folklore on Saturday, grabbing a share of the third-round lead on a punishing Chambers Bay layout that had literally brought the Australian to his knees a day earlier.

Even though Day's round will be long remembered, there is still another chapter to be written in the 115th US Open with Americans Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson and South African Branden Grace all level on four-under 206 going into Sunday.

Day had collapsed on his final hole on Friday and had to be helped from the course by medics after he collapsed again when he completed his round three shots off the lead.

There was worry the world number 10 would have to withdraw but he dug deep and on Saturday was back on the first tee.

Looking drained, Day shot a two-under 68 highlighted by a brilliant back nine that featured five birdies, including three over his four closing holes.

His storming finish earned him a share of the lead and a rousing standing ovation from the 6,000 fans packed into the 18th hole grandstands.

Savoured the applause

Day took only a moment to savour the applause as he gingerly made his way to a waiting van where he slumped into the back seat with closed eyes and laid his head on the back rest.

"Last year I didn't play the round after I had vertigo and this one was worse," Day told reporters. "I think the goal was just to go through today and see how it goes."

Day's effort dominated another dramatic afternoon on the links-style layout that saw five different names at the top of the leaderboard and an assortment of brilliant and bewildering shots.

Frustrated McIlroy turns 'a 65 into a 70'

Rory McIlroy carded his best score of the week at the US Open, but was disappointed with a level-par 70 that he felt should have been at least five strokes better.

The World No 1 picked up two shots on the front nine, including a 25-footer on the second hole, but squandered several opportunities after the turn as he ran up two bogeys for a four-over total of 214 after three rounds.

"It took a while to hole one (a putt) there," McIlroy told reporters after celebrating a 10-foot par putt on the 18th green at a firm and fast-running Chambers Bay. "I missed seven good chances on the back nine, or seven makeable putts anyway.

"It was just nice to see one drop at the last there. I feel like I turned a 65 into a 70 today. Just real disappointed."

The heavily contoured, blotchy greens on the links-style layout have been widely criticised by the players, and Swedish world number six Henrik Stenson said it was "pretty much like putting on broccoli" after the second round.

"I don't think they're as green as broccoli, I think they're more like cauliflower," McIlroy said with a smile. "They are what they are, everyone has to putt on them. It's all mental.

"Some guys embrace it more than others, and that's really the way it is. It is disappointing that they're not in a bit better shape but the newer greens, like seven and 13, they're perfect."

McIlroy, bidding for his fifth major victory, felt that good putting at Chambers Bay was all about staying positive. Momentum could quickly slip away with a tentative approach, he said.