Monday 20 June 2016 02:13, UK
Jason Day insisted that the USGA's decision to tell him about a potential penalty for Dustin Johnson had no impact on his US Open challenge.
Johnson went on to claim the the title but only on a final day marred by controversy over an incident on the fifth hole when the American's ball moved as he approached his putting stroke - he was eventually penalised at the end of his round but only after almost two hours of debate and delay while the USGA waited to make their ruling
Johnson was told on the 12th hole that the incident would be looked at and he may or may not face a penalty, while it was also confirmed that all of the players out on the course had been told of what was going on but Day insisted it played no part: "They said there may be an infraction of him moving a ball or something.
"I really wasn't listening, because I honestly said to myself, well, let's just plan that he's not going to get a penalty.
"You've got to plan that, and he's in front and I've got to keep pushing. So no, I understood that. They told me. But, you know, at that time, I was one-under. I still had to keep pushing towards that score.
"If I was in that situation, I would plan that I was going to get the penalty so that it kept on pushing me. And hopefully, that I had a two-shot lead instead of just a one-shot lead, and then they'd come back and would give me the penalty and you'd go play 18 holes the next day. That would suck. But, you know, it is what it is.
On the course Day put an opening round of 76 behind him, to move into a tie for ninth place courtesy of rounds of 69-66-71 but it could have been better having got to within touching distance of the leaders with a couple of holes of his round remaining
"It wasn't too disappointing, really. I eagled 12, birdied 13. 14, I just kind of left it out there to the right, made a good two-putt. 15, if it went five more yards would have landed on the front and kicked up," Day added.
"That would have been maybe - it would have given me a good shot at birdie. Same with 16, if it went five more yards, would have kind of caught the top and rolled towards the flag. I hit a great shot there. 17, I'm sitting there at one-under. Dustin Johnson is 4 under. I know I've got to push. You've got a 3 wood and if I hit a great one, it may have just kind of been a little short.
"But I had to hit a really good one to get, because, obviously, it's a long way up that hill to the front of the green.
"I had to push. You can't win tournaments just laying up there. I had the opportunity to go out there and give myself the shot at winning the tournament. I tried to hit a good shot there. Hit a great drive. Unfortunately, didn't work out."
