Henrik Stenson got in trouble five times off the tee, only paid for it with two bogeys, and wound up with a 2-under 68.
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Given Spieth, Stenson and Fowler are all guaranteed the FedEx Cup and its $US10million bonus should they win the tournament, Day’s hopes rest on what would have to be a brilliant final round. He was three shots behind.
Day is also in danger of losing his world No.1 status after just one week. He was nine shots behind.
As Tiger Woods recovers from another operation on his increasingly creaky body, the Tour Championships goes on without him at soggy East Lake. It will start to unfold Saturday.
The 22-year-old American came up with a clutch par save on the 16th by rolling in a 22-foot putt to stay within one stroke.
In simplest and often repeated terms, Spieth and Stenson – who will head out again on Sunday paired together – control their own as well as the FedEx Cup destiny at Nos.
Spieth showed throughout the season that he embraces the challenge on the sport’s biggest stages.
And when the mud settled on the third round of the Tour Championship, there was a new leader: none other than two-time major victor Jordan Spieth.
“I think everyone’s soaking wet and muddy and needs a good wash-up for tomorrow”, said Stenson, who won the 2013 Tour Championship and FedExCup playoffs jackpot and can repeat the double with a victory on Sunday. We know that much. It’s as comfortable as I feel all year.
DEJA VU FOR A TEXAN: Spieth and Stenson will be paired in the final group on Saturday, which should bring back good memories for Spieth. Perhaps there will be a round like Stenson’s opening 7-under 63.
Both players left themselves long-range birdie putts on the closing hole. He took a risk going through the tree to 6 feet for par, and then rolled in a 20-foot par putt for a bunker save on the par-3 sixth. Although the hole is one of the easiest on the course, it was the first eagle scored there this week….
A victory would push him over a record $12 million for the season, and give him the $10 million bonus for winning the FedEx Cup.
Spieth’s attitude played a part in his performance, too.
Rickie Fowler shot a 31 on the back nine for a 67 and was four shots back. Another dropped shot on the seventh left Day on level par and nine shots off the pace.
McIlroy made a shaky start with bogeys on the first and fourth holes before he suddenly starting finding his putting range. He was eight back.
Paul Casey made bogey from the bunker on the 18th for a 70 and was four shots behind, and British Open champion Zach Johnson birdied three of his last four holes to overcome a double bogey on the par-5 ninth. He has shot in the 60s each round.
Yet while the electorate may need further clarity – and, to be clear, Day needed to win the FedEx Cup to be considered a true rival to Spieth in the Player of the Year race – Spieth wasn’t spending much energy on the topic.
The biggest challenge figures to be East Lake, especially with more wet conditions forecast.
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It was just the second over-par effort from Day in his last 30 rounds.
