US Open 2015: What we learned on Saturday

Jason Day loves Majors

The Australian lives for the big ones and it sems like the tougher it is the better he is suited. Apparently, that even extends to overcoming personal adversity. When he collapsed on the 18th on Friday it seemed that might be that for his challenge this year. He made it on to the 1st tee yesterday but when he bogeyed two of his first four holes it appeared to be only a matter of time before he walked in.

Not so, his play over the remaining 14 holes was almost faultless and he has clawed his way back into a share of the lead. What a story it would be should he finish the job off tonight.

Spieth can miss putts

You really did begin to wonder what was going when the Masters champion’s third round began with a pair of putting bombs for early birdies. Yet as the day went on he showed he is human on the greens and even threw in a few three-putts for good measure.

But it was almost more impressive that he survived a mid-round wobble to post an extremely respectable 71 and now he has every chance of winning his second successive Major.

"What a story it would be should Jason Day finish the job off tonight."
Chambers Bay is beginning to wear

After three long days, the novelty factor has well and truly worn off, on the greens at least. Let’s be honest, these are sub-standard surfaces, some of the worst we have seen in a Major for many years. Yes, we expect courses to be perfectly presented and are spoilt, but it surely isn’t too much to ask for the greens to be less like broccoli, according to Henrik Stenson, and cauliflower, if you ask Rory McIlroy.

The fact that these top players are openly joking about what is a serious matter says it all.

Beyond that, the amount of ground movement after balls land is surely excessive. The site is too hilly to be presented in such a bare, shaved fashion.

Oh, and the less said about the pin position on the 18th yesterday the better.

The USGA can’t resist tinkering

Mike Davis and his team like to play god at the US Open. And in Chambers Bay they have a playground like no other. It’s like a golfing version of Sim City, with Davis pulling the strings. Holes changing length by the day and pars being swapped round is just gimmicky. The US Open is bigger and better than that.

Patrick Reed isn’t quite there yet

He desperately wants a Major to validate his belief that he belongs at the top and he is very close to landing one. But after a 76 yesterday, it surely won’t be this week and it’s a golden opportunity passed over given his halfway share of the lead. He will surely learn from the experience though – he is too good a player not to. He’ll be back.