Jason Day storms into Masters contention as McIlroy shares early lead
Evin Priest
Augusta, Georgia: Former world No.1 Jason Day has negotiated a spicy and firm Augusta National to storm into Masters contention midway through a sunny opening round, courtesy of a sensational 11-hole stretch.
A runner-up at the April major in 2011, Day inched a step closer to his dream of a green jacket with a first-round 69 at Augusta National, which left the Queenslander at three under par and just two shots off the clubhouse lead.
The Georgia sunshine baked Augusta National’s fairways and greens into a firm and fast condition as American Sam Burns posted the early target of five-under 67, while defending champion Rory McIlroy was tied for the lead midway through his back nine.
The 2015 PGA Championship winner Day salvaged a nervy start that saw him bogey the short par-4 third hole, usually a solid birdie opportunity.
The 38-year-old treaded water until the par-5 eighth when a perfect drive set up a fairway wood that he muscled to the green for his second shot. Day two-putted for birdie from 22.8 metres.
Day then played Amen Corner in perfect fashion, with a gorgeous tee shot on the iconic par-3 12th allowing him to drain a 4.9-metre birdie putt. The Queenslander then laid up on the par-5 13th before a sublime wedge allowed for a tap-in birdie.
The 13-time PGA Tour winner bagged another birdie with a stunning iron shot at the par-3 16th which yielded a five-foot birdie he made.
“I got off to a bit of a shaky start, [but] I feel good about my game,” Day said.
With plenty of sun forecast for the remaining three rounds, Day said patience was key to hanging with the leaders given Augusta’s pristine turf will only become firmer and faster.
“When I see five under leading, and with what weather we got coming up, I’ve just got to be very patient,” Day, in his 15th Masters appearance, said.
“I’ve just got to take my birdies when I can and not try and force anything. [I have gotten] off to a great start. We’ve got three more days.
He said the heat would prove a key factor.
Day said the rock-hard nature of the greens had left even the world’s best golfers dreading some of the wedge shots. Specifically, his third shot into 15 that failed to deliver a birdie.
“A lot of people don’t realise how tough that wedge shot is,” Day said. “It makes us very nervous. Shane and I landed [our golf balls] just up to the green and bounced up to the back. I looked at him and he just started laughing shaking his head.”
Day’s fellow Queenslander, former British Open champion Cameron Smith, struggled to a bogey-bogey finish on the closing two par 4s for a two-over 74.
“Yeah, a couple quick fives just like that,” former world No.2 Smith said of the last two holes. “This place can do it to you.”
The highlight of Smith’s round was when, at one-over, he chipped in for birdie at the 16th to return to even par. He felt he had given himself work to do but remained hopeful of clawing back from seven shots adrift of the clubhouse lead.
“I kind of scratched it around today,” Smith said. “Yeah, I’m definitely not out of the tournament.
“I made a really kind of crappy bogey on [the par-5] 13. I was in a really good spot and made bogey which hurt a little bit. But other than that, you know, I got the most out of my round [even though] I didn’t feel that great. I did a good job hanging in there.”
Meanwhile, the 2013 Masters champion, Adam Scott, was one over while playing his back nine. The top-ranked Australian, Min Woo Lee, was languishing at four over through 10 holes.
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