Day gears for fast finish on PGA Tour

Jason Day is three shots from the lead with 10 holes to play after a rain-interrupted fourth day at the US PGA Tour's Zurich Classic in New Orleans.

Jason Day

Jason Day made a good start before rain stopped play at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. (AAP)

Jason Day is tied fifth and gearing up for a sprint finish following a frustrating day at the US PGA Tour's rain-hit Zurich Classic in New Orleans.

World No.1 Day managed to play just eight holes in his third round - in three under par - before steady rain, accompanied by thunder, forced organisers to clear the water-logged TPC Louisiana at 10am.

They later reduced the tournament to 54 holes when no further play was possible.

Day birdied the last two holes he played to get to 10-under, three shots behind joint leaders Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela and American Brian Stuard, going into the closing stages which officials hope to complete on Monday.

"I'm only three shots back, but anything can happen on the back side," Day said.

"We always say golf is a marathon, not a sprint, (but) this is kind of a sprint now."

Vegas made birdie putts from beyond seven feet on the first two holes to reach 13-under, then parred three straight before play was called off.

Stuard, who has not made a bogey in the tournament, had one birdie and, like Vegas, he'll resume on the sixth hole.

The Zurich Classic is the first PGA Tour event to be shortened to 54 holes since the 2013 Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua.

Vegas is seeking a second PGA Tour win.

"I grew up in a place that rained a lot," Vegas said. "The big thing here (is) just being able to hit the ball clean, especially when it's muddy and so wet.

The 33-year-old Stuard is trying to win a PGA Tour event for the first time, and the delays have given him plenty of time to sit around and think about the high stakes he faces."

"Just try not to get ahead of yourself," Stuard said. "We just got to keep that right mind frame and just worry about the next shot."

Bobby Wyatt, who has an eagle and four birdies in his third round, climbed from 22nd after two rounds to third at 12-under with nine holes to play. Jamie Lovemark was fourth at 11-under with 13 holes left.

Day is tied with Charley Hoffman, Scott Stallings, Chris Kirk and Charles Howell III.

Hoffman and Stallings each have just four holes left, while Kirk has nine and Howell 12.


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Source: AAP



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