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Day predicts major drama for WGC final day

Australia's Jason Day and Marc Leishman are well in the mix after the third round at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio.

Australian golf star Jason Day
Jason Day had to rely on his iron and short game in the third round at the Bridgestone Invitational. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Jason Day insists the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational is still wide open, predicting a volatile final round is going to feel like a major championship Sunday.

Day battled an error-riddled third round at Ohio's famed Firestone Country Club and, despite a bogey at the last, the former world No.1 carded a one-under-par 69 to finish at 10 under - four shots off the pace.

Justin Thomas fired a 67 and is in the driver's seat at 14 under.

The world No.3 has 2014 WGC-Bridgestone winner Rory McIlroy (67) and Ian Poulter (70) snapping at his heels three shots back.

Day refuses to concede the elite 71-man event to prolific winner Thomas, whose 2017 US PGA Championship title is among eight US PGA Tour victories during the past three years.

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"(Sunday) is a different story," a defiant Day said.

"The course is going to be tougher and totally different to the previous three rounds and it's going to feel like a major.

"There's a lot more pressure on all of us to go out there and try to perform."

Marc Leishman carded a 67 to sit a shot back of fellow Australian Day, in a tie for fifth, and is also confident of making a final-round charge.

"I don't think I'm too far back; it's one of those courses where if you're on you can make a lot of birdies and get on a run," Leishman said.

"On the other hand, if your game's a little bit off and you're missing fairways you can make a few bogeys out there.

"If I shoot a seven or eight under and the leaders (stumble), there's no reason why I can't give them a run for their money."

Eight-time WGC-Bridgestone champion Tiger Woods dropped three shots after a 73 to plummet to three under.

With the US Tour changing the event's name and moving it to Tennessee next year, the 14-time major winner's hopes of farewelling Akron, Ohio with a first worldwide win in five years are all but over.

Woods, who played the first two rounds with Day and Saturday alongside Leishman, booked another pairing with an Australian after Wade Ormsby posted a 68 to finish at two under.

Cameron Smith is one under after a 69 while Adam Scott salvaged a respectable 54-hole total of even par courtesy of a 67.


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