Liguori: Jason Day's U.S. Open Performance One For The Ages

By Ann Liguori
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UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. (CBSNewYork) — Gutsy! Unbelievable! Amazing! What a performance from 27-year-old Aussie Jason Day!

The fact that Day even played Saturday in the U.S. Open is remarkable based on collapsing on Friday in Round 2 from vertigo, which he has been battling off and on for a while now. And the fact that he has a share for the lead at 4 under going into Sunday's final round based on how badly he feels is miraculous.

Physically, Day looked terrible when he approached the first tee. His eyes were squinting. He walked gingerly. He had to steady himself before he addressed his shots. He said the vertigo came back on the 13th hole and he felt nauseous and started shaking.

I didn't think he was going to finish the round based on how he looked and what I know about vertigo. Day's caddie said Day almost quit three times.

My mom had a bout with vertigo several months ago, and she was hospitalized. It's scary because you can't control how long it lasts and when it comes and goes. The room spins, you feel as if you're pulled in different directions. You feel unbalanced. Symptoms include feeling nauseated, having abnormal jerking eye movements, headaches, sweating and ringing in ears.

Day started the second round at 2 under for the championship, three shots back. He bogied holes 2 and 4, birdied 10, bogied 12 and birdied 13, 15, 17 and 18 to shoot a 2-under 68. His birdie on the 18th grabbed a share for the lead.

"The goal was just to get through today and see how it goes," Day told a few reporters who caught up to him after his round.

Day issued a statement after the round saying he regrets passing on the opportunity to speak with the media. He felt extremely fatigued and needed to rest and consult with his medical team.

I'm not going to start comparing amazing efforts such as Ken Venturi's U.S. Open win at Congressional in 1994 despite complete dehydration, or Tiger winning the 2008 U.S. Open on one leg with a torn ACL.

But I will call Jason Day's effort, heroic. What a class act. Regardless of whether he can hold on to his lead and win his first major title, Day is a winner and displayed one of the most heroic efforts in sports I've seen.

Let's hope doctors can get to the bottom of his health issues and that this exceptional talent can compete while feeling 100 percent.

Follow Ann on Twitter at @AnnLiguori