Spieth and Reed lead American charge at US Open

Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth will lead an American charge at Chambers Bay when the third round of the US Open gets under way on Saturday as Rory McIlroy faces stiff climb if he is to get into contention for a fifth major title.

Spieth and Reed lead American charge at US Open

By Simon Lewis, Irish Examiner

Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth will lead an American charge at Chambers Bay when the third round of the US Open gets under way on Saturday as Rory McIlroy faces stiff climb if he is to get into contention for a fifth major title.

Ryder Cup playing partners Reed and Spieth share the 36-hole lead in Washington State at five-under-par after another tough day by Puget Sound that saw world number one McIlroy battle to make the halfway cut - his second consecutive two-over 72 leaving him nine shots off the pace.

Yet no-one had as tough a Friday at the US Open as Jason Day who suffered a bout of vertigo that caused him to collapse as he played his final hole.

The Australian did finish his round though, and having spent his evening receiving medical attention was hopeful he would be able to continue his title bid on Saturday from three strokes behind the leaders.

Spieth, bidding for consecutive major victories after his Masters success in April, had set the target number at five under as the pick of the early wave of starters with a second-round, three-under 67.

His fellow Americans Reed and Dustin Johnson had duelled throughout the afternoon and into the evening to join the Masters champion and world number two. Big-hitting Johnson had looked to be overpowering Chambers Bay as he reached seven-under-par after 11 holes, only to fall back to four-under with bogeys at the 14th, 17th and 18th in a one-over round of 71.

Reed too had had ambitions of the outright lead but bogeyed his final hole to settle for a 69 and fall into a share with Spieth at five-under.

And as they focussed on their games, Day was being diagnosed as having suffered from Benign Positional Vertigo when he played the final hole of his second round earlier in the day.

Day, who has been affected by still unexplained dizzy spells for the past year despite undergoing brain scans, blood analysis and sleep tests, had been two shots off the then-lead of playing partner Jordan Spieth at five-under-par as he walked towards his ball in a bunker at the ninth green.

Walking along the sloping fairway the 27-year-old dropped to the ground in front of a greenside grandstand and was complaining of vertigo as he was treated where he fell by medics who were quickly on the scene.

Jason Day

He returned to play after around five minutes of treatment on the fairway, albeit clearly unstable on his feet as he walked into the bunker, taking a knee and a drink of water on the way.

Day then asked a rules official to remove a stone close to his ball - under local rules - as his hands were not steady enough to attempt the manoeuvre, but he went on to produce a great bunker shot onto the green, the Australian two-putting for a remarkable bogey and a 70 to remain on two under before being led off the course by medics to a waiting cart.

He was made to sign for his round thus enabling him to continue play if fit for Saturday's second round and Day's agent Bud Martin later issued a statement to explain his player's position.

“Jason was diagnosed to have suffered from Benign Positional Vertigo,” Martin's statement read.

“He was treated locally by Dr Robert Stoecker and Dr Charles Souliere and is resting comfortably. His condition is being monitored closely and he is hopeful he will be able to compete this weekend in the final rounds of the US Open. He wants to thank all who treated him at the Franciscan Medical Group and thank all of the fans and friends who have reached out to he and his family.”

One of those friends was Tiger Woods who had been in the group behind Day, Spieth and Justin Rose and saw events unfold as he looked down onto the ninth green from the hole's elevated tee box.

“He was laying down there. And I know he didn't play in Dallas this year because of vertigo,” Woods said after his round of 76 which confirmed his early exit from the tournament with a missed cut at 16 over par.

“I played with him at Memorial and we talked about it in depth, and (he) did a blood panel and all that stuff. I hope he's okay. I'll call him as soon as I'm done here and see if he's all right.

“He's one of my really close friends. I'd like to get out of here and see if he's okay.”

Jordan Spieth

South Africa's Branden Grace matched Spieth's 67 to move to four-under in a tie for third with Johnson, a shot ahead of a quartet including Holland's Joost Luiten (69).

Ireland's Shane Lowry is nicely placed at one under following a level-par 70 and will have needed no confirmation from Reed that this US Open is still wide open.

“It's definitely going to be a tournament that anyone has a chance to win,” Reed said. “If a guy gets hot and shoots seven, eight-under-par, who knows what he's going to do with the scoreboard. That's how it is at every US Open. It seems like until 72nd hole is done, it's anybody's game. And I just have to go in and take it hole by hole, shot by shot, and hopefully at the end have a shot.”

Whether world number one McIlroy is part of that equation will depend on whether he can ignite his week on Saturday because his bid to move into contention never gathered momentum on Friday.

The 2011 US Open champion gave back shots as soon he made advances in his two-over round, the most notable of which was an eagle at the par-four 12th. Yet a double bogey-bogey finish leaves him at four-over-par, one behind Phil Mickelson.

At least he will be playing this weekend, defending champion Martin Kaymer slumping to a 74 to finish on six-over, 2010 champion Graeme McDowell bowing out with a second consecutive 74 to finish on eight-over and Darren Clarke also going home early, the European Ryder Cup captain posting an 80 to finish on 17-over.

more courts articles

Gary Glitter victim seeking six-figure sum in damages, court told Gary Glitter victim seeking six-figure sum in damages, court told
Stephen Bear ordered to pay back profits from sharing private sex tape Stephen Bear ordered to pay back profits from sharing private sex tape
Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother

More in this section

OFX Irish Legends Media Day Paul McGinley wants to address Irish Senior Open regret
The 2016 Ryder Cup Matches - Day 1 - Afternoon Fourball Matches Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's virtual golf league to launch in January
2023 Ryder Cup – Singles Matches 'Drunken lunch' led to Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry teaming up for New Orleans
Sport Push Notifications

By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser.

Sign Up

Ireland's Top 10 Hidden Gems

Ten of the best golf courses in Ireland that too few people know about.

Read Here
Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited