World number one Jason Day will take a four-shot lead into the third round of the Players Championship after establishing a new 36-hole scoring record at Sawgrass.

Day opted not to complete the 15th hole when play was suspended due to darkness on Friday evening after an earlier two-hour delay due to a thunderstorm.

And that proved to be an excellent decision when play resumed on Saturday morning, the 28-year-old Australian hitting his approach to 15 feet and holing out for a third birdie in succession.

Pars at the last three holes meant the US PGA Champion added a 66 to his course record-equalling 63 on Thursday for a 15-under-par total of 129, a shot better than the previous record set by fellow Australian Greg Norman in 1994.

Norman dropped just one shot all week on his way to a tournament record of 24 under par. Day has so far carded 15 birdies and 21 pars in carving out a four-shot lead over Ireland's Shane Lowry, who completed his 68 on Friday.

In contrast, Day's playing partner Jordan Spieth missed the cut by a shot in his first appearance since blowing a five-shot lead with nine holes to play in the Masters last month.

Spieth bogeyed the 15th when play resumed and a birdie on the 18th came too late to prevent an early exit alongside defending champion Rickie Fowler and Masters champion Danny Willett.

Willett covered the back nine in 40 in his 73, while Fowler birdied two of his last three holes to add a 71 to his opening 72.