June 21--America loves the Final Four.
Now America's golf fans get a Final Four at the U.S. Open: Jordan Spieth, Branden Grace, Dustin Johnson and sentimental favorite Jason Day are all at 4-under par heading into the final round at Chambers Bay, on Father's Day.
Spieth and Grace will play together, and Day and Johnson will form the final group, teeing off at 5 p.m. Chicago time.
Day overcame the effects of vertigo to fire a 2-under 68 that stood as the second-best score of the day, to Louis Oosthuizen's 66.
"Kudos to him," said J.B. Holmes, who played in the group behind Day. "That's great playing. It's tough anytime, if you're sick or feeling good."
Johnson impressed by hitting all 14 fairways Saturday at Chambers Bay, one of three players to do that.
Grace, who shot an even-par 70 in the third round, said of playing in the final group: "I'm stoked. I can't wait. Tomorrow is going to be a good one. This is what we play golf for. So it's my dream to lead a tournament or tying the lead."
Fellow South African Ernie Els, who fell back to 58th place following a 6-over 76, said of Grace: "We played a couple of practice rounds together earlier in the week and I said from the start: Of the South Africans he has the best chance, because he hits the ball really low with his driver. He doesn't put any shape on it, so it's dead straight when he's on. So he gets good length, he's a really good iron player and he's been working on his putting. He's got the all-around game for this place."
Jordan Spieth has the all-around game to win anywhere, but he struggled on the greens Saturday and shot 1-over.
At least he fared better than playing partner Patrick Reed, who followed rounds of 66-69 with a 76.
"It's unacceptable the way I played," he said. "I go out there, have I think more doubles than birdies today. It's just ridiculous. To have a 4-putt, I could have done that left-handed. So it was horrendous out there. And the golf course beat me."
The U.S. Open will do that to people.
It will also reveal a winner at sundown Sunday ... or following a Monday playoff.
