Matt Jones has refused to give up on a maiden major championship despite a late fade in the third round.

Jones, who played 23 holes on Saturday as he completed round two and then went out for round three, was left to rue the end of his third round where he dropped four shots to shoot one-over 73 and finish at 10-under.

It dropped the New South Welshman from outright second into a tie for sixth, five back of countryman Jason Day at 15-under.

“I’m still in it. I’m definitely not out of it. I have to shoot a very good round tomorrow, Jones said.

“I didn’t play great today, I got away with it on the front nine and made a couple of good birdies on the back nine. Golf runs like that, and it got me in the end. So I just need to make some birdies tomorrow and get my name back up there.”

Jones held a two-shot lead after the rain delayed second round and was up by as many as three on the front nine in round three before hitting his ball into a hospitality tent on the ninth.

Instead of taking a free drop in the rough the 35-year-old chose to play from the carpet amongst the fans and was half a metre off hitting the green in stunning fashion.

A resulting bogey stalled him a little but he pushed back to 14-under through 14 holes before two bogeys and a double sent him tumbling.

While he hasn’t counted himself out Jones believes Day might kick start a huge run in majors.

“He’s playing great. He’s going to be very tough to beat tomorrow, the way he’s putting, as well. Best of luck to him,” Jones said.

“It will happen for him when it happens and when it does, there will probably be a lot of them. I see top 10 in every major. Once he gets his first one, just like Phil (Mickelson).

“Phil went on a run, and I can see that happen with Jason. He’ll win five or six pretty quick.”