Jason Day has found something to ignite his spluttering golf game, producing his best round of the year to nip at the heels of the scoreboard leader as the $7.5 million Byron Nelson tournament in Texas heads toward its climax.

Day shot nine birdies for a seven-under-par 63 in the third round on Saturday. placing him two shots behind the leader, American James Hahn.

Back at the Irving, Texas, tournament that provided the first of his 10 US PGA Tour titles in 2010, everything seemed to fall into place for world No.4 Day, who has been struggling to find the form made him No.1 last year.

His round at TPC Four Seasons included five birdies in a row starting at the seventh hole and a 60-foot birdie bomb which produced a roar from fans at the 17th.

“Everything was kind of clicking,” said Day, who believed the key was locking in on his distinctive pre-shot routines.

“The process of thinking over the golf ball was a lot smoother as well,” he said
“When things like that happen you can kind of swing away at things and I was driving the ball wonderfully and I gave myself the opportunity to hole a lot of putts today.”

Hahn shot a bogey-free 64 to get to 12-under and lead by one shot from fellow American Billy Horschel (66) with Day and Jason Kokrak (72) a stroke further back and one clear of Cameron Tringale (67).

Defending champion and reigning Masters champion Sergio Garcia also put himself in the frame with a 64 to be tied sixth at eight under.

Garcia beat Brooks Koepka in a playoff last year to become the first two-time Nelson winner since Irving became the tournament’s home in 1983.

Day could match that Sunday in the last round at TPC Four Seasons before a move to the new Trinity Forest Golf Club in south Dallas next year.

World No.1 Dustin Johnson shot a 71 with five bogeys and four birdies and was seven strokes off the lead, tied for 19th.