Walker gave no indication of playing major championship golf this year, finishing tied for 29th at the Masters and missing the cut at both Opens.
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Day was trying to join Tiger Woods as the only golfers to successfully defend the PGA title since it went to stroke play in 1958. After a birdie on 11, he was in position to stick around, but he bogeyed 13. The five-time major champion said after his round that Baltusrol was ripe for the picking and expected some history to be made here.
Another stroke back lurks British Open victor Henrik Stenson of Sweden.
The three players in front played their entire third round in the morning as the tournament played catch up after heavy rains forced a suspension of the third round on Saturday.
PGA chief championships officer Kerry Haigh apologized to Colt Knost, Joe Summerhays and Yuta Ikeda of Japan after Friday’s hole location at No. 10 was inaccurately positioned and listed.
Rather than start early in threesomes off split tees, the PGA followed tradition and sent out the final group of Jimmy Walker and Robert Streb at 2:55 p.m., hoping to deliver a 7 p.m. finish for TV partner CBS.
The PGA of America said competition was scheduled to resume at 7 a.m. Sunday, but the forecast for Saturday night and for overnight called for more rain. I played lovely golf yesterday.
Henrik Stenson watches his tee shot on the first hole during the first round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., Thursday, July 28, 2016.
Two weeks ago at Royal Troon, where Mickelson opened with a 63 and Stenson close with a 63, it was just those two players in a duel that ranked among the greatest.
Equally thrilling was to be tied for the lead with Jimmy Walker, who shot a 4-under 66. Baltusrol has surrendered four major 63s, the most of any course, and the PGA has allowed 14 63s, as many as the United States and British Opens combined. After an adventurous first two rounds, Mickelson rediscovered his swing and shot a two-under 68.
Day was right where he wanted to be, three shots behind going into the weekend, his name high on the leaderboard for everyone to see.
The fourth round began at 8:40 a.m. and there will be no re-pairings because of that.
American Phil Mickelson was the victor then and two of his compatriots lead the way this time around, with Walker and Streb – scheduled for a 7:40am tee time – on nine under.
Lee Westwood and Justin Rose had reason to celebrate whatever the outcome of day three of the US PGA Championship at Baltusrol on Saturday.
Because of the soft conditions, Walker and Streb (on the strength of a Friday 63) posted a two-round total of 9-under 131, which tied for the championship record for low 36-hole score.
“Yeah, well, 20-under won the last major”.
A resurgent Jordan Spieth moved firmly into contention in the US PGA Championship following a soggy start to the second round at Baltusrol.
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Thirty-seven had completed their third rounds before the klaxon sounded to suspend play.
