US OPEN: An Extraordinary Day

BY JOHN HUGGAN at Chambers Bay

More than half a century has passed since the late Ken Venturi, suffering from heat exhaustion, severe dehydration and close to collapse on numerous occasions, won the 1964 US Open at Congressional just outside Washington DC. But history might well be about to repeat itself, albeit this time in Washington State.

Jason Day finishes his third round with a birdie but was still feeling the effects of vertigo. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

With one round to play, Queensland’s Jason Day – despite openly feeling the effects of the vertigo condition that caused him to collapse on his last hole on day two – is tied for the lead in the 115^th US Open at Chambers Bay. The World No.10 is four under par alongside American duo Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth as well as South African Branden Grace.

Win or not, however, Day’s performance has already been nothing short of remarkable. Walking gingerly and bending over with obvious caution, the Queenslander shot an amazing 68 – only Louis Oosthuizen’s 66 was better – to move slowly but surely to the top of the leaderboard.

Day said he felt groggy at times during the third round. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

Perhaps most remarkably, Day made his score over the closing holes at a time when it would have been understandable for him to feel the effects of both his condition and the pressure of the situation. Two over par at the turn, Day made his first birdie of the round at the 10^th. He did drop a shot at the next, but four birdies in the last seven holes transformed an ordinary round into an extraordinary effort.

There was even time for a crowd-pleasing climax. After pushing his drive well right of the final fairway, Day pitched back into play before stroking a beautifully crafted approach to no more than five feet. It all added up to an inward half of 31.

“I didn’t feel that groggy coming out early but on the front nine I did, just from the drugs in my system,” he said. “Then I kind of flushed that out on the back nine. The vertigo came back a little bit though on the 13^th tee. Then I felt nauseous all day. I started shaking on the 16^th tee and then I just tried to get in really. I just wanted to get in.

“Last year I didn’t play after I had vertigo and this one was worse. The goal today was just to go through today and see how it goes.”

Understandably overshadowed more than somewhat by Day’s gritty display, Cam Smith will also enter the final round with a more than legitimate chance to become only the third Australian to win the US Open. After opening with a brace of 70s, the 21-year old Queenslander shot 69 to sit only three shots off the pace. No one in the field has been more consistent.

Cameron Smith playing in his first major championship will play in the third last group in the final round. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

“Today was awesome,” said the former Australian Amateur champion. “It’s like a dream come true really. The game plan today was 18 pars, just get out there, play smart and putt well. That’s been the plan all week. And if I can do that tomorrow I will hopefully be in with a shout.”

“That’s a helluva effort,” agreed former Masters champion Adam Scott (T-19 on three over par after a 73) of his young compatriot. “Nothing anyone tells him is really going to prepare him for what lies ahead. It’s all going to have to come from within himself. If he does all the right stuff and blocks out all that’s going on around him, he could hold the trophy. That’s not something he wants to think about tonight though. He has to treat it as just another round of golf. That’s where his head needs to be when he gets to the first tee tomorrow.”

It promises to be an exciting and possibly historic final day, not unlike 1964. “My God,” said Venturi, as he holed the title-clinching putt. “I won the Open.” A similarly awe-struck sentiment would be more than appropriate should Day somehow find a way to replicate the American’s feat.