Birdies by Day, father by night

JASON Day hopes work-life balance can help him go on to finally win the Pebble Beach Pro Am after shooting himself into contention on day one in California yesterday.

A visibly relaxed Day fired a six-under-par 65 at Monterey Peninsula Country Club to sit just one shot off a two-way tie for the first-round lead held by Americans Scott Langley and Brian Gay, who each shot 64 also at Monterey.

Teeing off at the 10th hole, Day carded two early birdies before a bogey at the par-four 15th hole.

However the 13-time US PGA Tour winner responded with three straight birdies be- fore the turn and added two more on his back nine.

With Day and wife Ellie welcoming their third child, son Arrow, in November and Day enjoying a run without injuries that have recently plagued him, the Queenslander says he has never felt clearer.

He says it’s playing a large part in his solid start to 2019, which also kicked off with a top-five finish at Torrey Pines last month.

Now, the 31-year-old has given himself a hot start to the Pebble Beach Pro Am — where he has recorded five top-six results, including a runner-up last year, without lifting the trophy.

“I’ve just got a clearer head,” the former world No.1 said.

“When you don’t have any distractions and you have a clearer mind, you can focus on playing. Things start to align and become more balanced and that definitely yields good [golf]. I’m very close to getting back to where I need to be.”

Day shares third at six under alongside five others including five-time major winner Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson is regarded as having arguably the greatest short game in golfing history but has perennially struggled with the driver.

However the 48-year-old left-hander hit all 13 fairways at Monterey — a milestone he says is a career-first.

Australian Aaron Baddeley fired a three-under 69.