By Ben Everill
AKRON, Ohio: World No.1 Jason Day has somehow held onto a share of the lead despite hitting just three fairways in the third round of the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational.
Day put together a grinding one-under-par 69 to move to five-under 205 for the tournament, now joined at the top by American Scott Piercy.
Piercy, the recent runner up at the US Open, put up a 67 to set up another chance at glory.
Swede David Lingmerth (69) is third at four under with Brian Stuard (67) fourth a shot further back at three under.
Erratic: Jason Day lines up a putt on the fourth green during the third round of the World Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club.Credit: Gregory Shamus
Major winners Dustin Johnson (66) and Charl Scwartzel (67) plus recent tour winner William McGirt (70) are just three back in a share of fifth.
After hitting the first fairway with a four iron and going on to birdie the hole Day failed to hit another until the final two holes of his round.
Despite his wayward efforts he set up a two shot lead through six holes before it started to catch up.
Back-to-back bogeys on the seventh and eighth holes wiped out his advantage and only some crucial par saves kept him on pace.
Then a long range birdie putt on the 15th found the bottom of the cup, allowing the Queenslander to once again hold top spot on the leaderboard.
Adam Scott, who started the round just three off the lead, struggled to a 73 to drop to two over and a tie for 18th, now seven shots back.
Matt Jones (69) is three over and Marcus Fraser (69) sits five over while Nathan Holman, Marc Leishman and Steven Bowditch are double digits over par.
AAP