Day aces as Leish sets pace at BMW

AUSTRALIAN pair Marc Leishman and Jason Day have produced stunning individual performances at the BMW Championship in Chicago.

The Australian contingent at Conway Farms had a superb day yesterday in the third leg of the FedEx Cup with Cameron Smith joining Leishman and Day inside the top-10 through 36 holes.

Leishman backed up his opening nine-under-par 62 with a hot 64 on day two, with a 16-under total increasing his lead to three shots over world No.9 Day, who made a holein-one during a 65, and world No.10 Rickie Fowler (64).

Day, who replaced longtime caddie Colin Swatton for close mate Luke Reardon on tournament eve, sits at 13under and will play in the final group with and Leishman.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. It will be different not to see ‘Swatto’ on Jason’s bag but I’m really looking forward to playing with him. Hopefully, we can feed off each other and make a few birdies,” Leishman said.

Day, who won the 2015 BMW by six shots, hit a stellar 7-iron to ace the 170m par-3 17th at Conway Farms Club soon after a chip-in for eagle at the par-5 14th.

Day’s 65 was remarkable given he hit just seven of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens in regulation, leading the former world No.1 to believe his best golf is yet to come with a hot putter.

“I think so; I gave 100 per cent today. But those (ballstriking) statistics aren’t great,” Day said.

“If I can give myself more birdie looks that’d be nice.”

Leishman has been the form Australian on tour this year with a win and six top-10 results, but the 33-year-old Victorian will draw inspiration from a memorable round in Chicago with Tiger Woods as he chases a third PGA Tour victory.

“I’ve played a lot of golf in Chicago – in 2009 it was my first time playing with Tiger. I played really well and that was probably one of the most memorable days I ever had on a golf course,” Leishman said.

Rounding out the Australian contingent is Smith, who picked up three shots with a 68 to move to eight-under and in a tie for seventh.