Memorial a home game only by location for Jason Day

The Memorial has all the trappings of a home event for Jason Day.

He met his wife in Ohio and now lives about 25 minutes away from Muirfield Village Golf Club. He is a member at the course Jack Nicklaus built. Just don’t get the idea that the former world No. 1 has any kind of an advantage.

“Today was the first round I’ve played at Muirfield this year,” Day said Wednesday after a pro-am round with former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning. “I’ve played here for many years now. I’ve been so busy and been on the road that I haven’t had the opportunity.”

And when he plays the Memorial, he hasn’t done very well.

In eight appearances, Day has yet to crack the top 25. He has shot in the 60s only six times in 26 rounds. It’s not always easy playing at home, even an adopted hometown for the 29-year-old Australian.

Day had a reasonable chance last year. He was one shot out of the lead until a chip to the 18th green rolled back down to the fairway at the end of the third round and he took double bogey. Three behind going into the final round, he closed with a 74 and tied for 27th. Progress.

Day, who had hopes in January of keeping his No. 1 ranking all year, has slipped to No. 3 with ordinary play brought on in part by extraordinary circumstances. His mother was diagnosed with lung cancer, and the outlook was bleak until he brought her from Australia to Ohio for surgery. Prospects for a recovery are so good that his mother has returned to work in Australia.

His game is showing signs of turning around, too. Day nearly won the AT&T Byron Nelson two weeks ago until he threeputted on the first playoff hole to lose to Billy Horschel.