Jason Day has hung tough to earn a shot at a 14th PGA Tour title as the challengers closed the gap on leader Patrick Cantlay at the Genesis Invitational.
Former world No.1 Day eagled the par 5 17th hole of the storied Riviera course in Los Angeles as he salvaged a third-round two-under 69 on Saturday.
The 36-year-old Australian will go into the final round tied fifth and four shots behind Cantlay, who came off the boil with a 70 to be 14 under, two shots clear of fellow Americans Xander Schauffele (65) and Will Zalatoris (65).
"I'm kind of back a little bit. If I can go out there and shoot a decent score ... because Sunday scores as you know are a little bit different to the rest of the week, everything tightens up," said Day.
"So I might give myself a shot if I can shoot a decent one."
Day already has two top-10 finishes in his first four starts this season and is coming off a tie for sixth at the rain-shortened Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
He continues to impress since making swing changes to overcome persistent back trouble and he's back up to No.19 in the world, having broken a five-year title drought at the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson.
But the Queenslander remained frustrated that his driving was slightly off line at times on Saturday, costing him scoring chances.
"This is probably the most stressful and frustrating golf course you can potentially play if you're just missing fairways," he said. "I missed a lot of them over the last couple days.
"It would be nice to play stress-free golf tomorrow, but I know that's just not how my game is. Hopefully, wake up tomorrow and it just happens.
"I feel good about my game in regards to where my head's at. I just have to get the process a little bit better."
World No.7 Cantlay is trying to join Max Homa (2021) and John Merrick (2013) as players from the greater Los Angeles area to win their hometown event.
He had a five-shot lead at the halfway mark but lost most of that as his good friend Schauffele and Zalatoris charged.
"I played solid golf today," Cantlay said. "I didn't make any long putts or anything. Didn't really give myself too many chances, but all in all a solid day and in good position for tomorrow."
Day was tied with Harris English (65), a shot behind fourth-placed Luke List (68).
Adam Scott improved with a 67 to be tied 15th, eight shots behind Cantlay, while fellow Australian Cam Davis posted a second-straight 73 as he slid to tied 39th at two under.
with The AP
