Jason Day thrust himself into a tie for the lead while overnight leader Adam Scott imploded during the third round of the opening US PGA tour playoff event at Ridgewood Country Club.

Day rebounded from a couple of terrible holes to shoot a three-under-par round of 68, pushing himself into a tie for first with American veteran Jim Furyk.

Furyk put together a steady bogey-free 69 to join Day on top while fellow American Hunter Mahan (68) is a shot behind at eight under.

Seven players share fourth at seven-under-par while Stuart Appleby (69) made a move to be part a five players just three off the pace at six under.

Scott, the overnight co-leader, imploded to a 75 to be four under for the week and now five off the pace.

“Since it’s been a stop start year, to be able to work hard and get yourself into contention, maybe to even win the FedEx Cup at the end of the playoffs would obviously cap off a great year,” Day said.

“This is only my 12th start of the year. There’s still a lot of good golf ahead of me this year.”

Day kick started his round with back-to-back birdies on the second and third holes, catapulting him into a share of the lead.

After a couple of solid pars while others surged ahead Day knocked in a 25-foot birdie putt on the sixth to once again join top spot.

While a bogey on the seventh was a minor setback when he drilled a 16-foot birdie putt into the hole on the 10th he was once again out in front.

But, just as he appeared set to rabbit out in front of the pack Day butchered the par five 13th, making a double bogey.

After driving the ball into the left rough he hacked an eight iron into a waste area of heavy grass and despite an extensive search party the ball was never found.

Forced to return to hit again he laid up and then found the green with his fifth shot but two putted to end up with a seven.

Showing tremendous gumption the 26-year-old then managed back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes to once again join the lead.

Another lazy bogey on the par five 17th looked set to dampen his finish however he stuck his approach on the last to 10 feet and buried the putt to ensure he’ll play in the final group on Sunday chasing his second win of the year.

World No.2 Scott opened with a run of eight straight pars and was still right on pace before dropping four shots in his next four holes thanks to a double bogey and two bogeys.

He tried to fight back with a birdie on the 13th but another bogey on 17 left him chasing his tail in a tie for 23rd.

With his spot in the playoffs next week on the line Appleby has positioned himself to not only make week two, but also push towards the safe zone for week three.

Appleby split a birdie and bogey across his front nine but came home with a wet sail, making birdies on three of his last six holes.

Steven Bowditch shot 70 to be three under for the week while John Senden had a round to forget, his 74 dropping him towards the back of the pack at even par.

World No.1 Rory McIlroy earlier shot 70 to be four-under for the tournament.