Aussie Jason Day is hoping a decision to change putters on day three of the US will lead to victory later today (Sun) at Merion.

Day, who finished runner-up in the 2011 Masters and was in contention right up to the last couple of holes this year at Augusta, made the decision to swap putters and it paid immediate dividends with the Queenslander firing a day three 68.

Jason Day hoping a change in putters will deliver him a first Major. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

The bearded Australian was just among five players to break 70 ahead of the last round of the second Major Championship of 2013.

And the putter Day decided to use was the short stick that earned him his first PGA Tour victory at the 2007  Legend Financial Group Classic Presented by Cynergies Solutions.

It also just happened to be the same putter than earned Day his first and only PGA Tour success in capturing the 2010 HP Byron Nelson Championship in Texas.

And if successful this afternoon Day will follow in the footsteps of fellow Australian who captured the 1971 US Open at Merion.

“I’ve come off some pretty average golf lately and I needed to pump myself up for this week and get in as early as I could to prepare for this week because I knew that it was going to be tough,” said Day.

“Really, the Majors are kind of where it’s at.  I think that it really defines a career and if you can win as many as you can.  It just goes to show, I mean, you’re playing against the best players in the world at the highest level on the toughest golf course, courses, and I think that I just really enjoy playing in front of a lot of people and playing against the best.”

And helping inspire the 25-year old is not only the Masters success of Adam Scott but the fact fellow Australians John Senden and Matt Goggin are also with the top 22.

“John’s been playing great for the last couple of years and he’s it kind of suits him because he is a ball striker, he hits it very straight, hits a lot of fairways, hits a lot of greens,” said Day.

“Once he gets that putter rolling, he can be very hot with that.

“But not too sure.  I think that overall we just have to stay patient.  Can’t really tell you why Aussies are doing pretty well.  There’s only maybe a handful of us, and we did pretty well in the Masters and hopefully we can do well this week.”