DAY AND NIGHT

World No. 1 in mix as Reed leads by 2

Jason was thinking about the Bethpage Black course record, but stumbles a bit at Barclays

Jason Day, the defending champion at The Barclays, blitzed Bethpage Black with five birdies through seven holes Friday afternoon. He wanted a heat check.

“I was thinking, ‘What’s the course record?’” he said.

Regression followed. He bogeyed No. 8, followed that up with a double bogey at the ninth, took a breath at the turn and bogeyed No. 10. The course record − 64, achieved by four golfers, including a local club pro — rested in the annals, but on-course leaders also stayed within reach.

Day steadied his drives and putts to finish 1-under-par 70 for the day and 4-under through 36 holes. The effort left him in fifth place, four shots off the lead, which was held by American Patrick Reed, who played in the group immediately ahead of Day. Reed (68) gave a shot back as Day’s shadow loomed, bogeying No. 18 after hitting driver instead of a 3-iron off of the three-tier tee.

“Stupid decision,” Reed said. “Felt like I was hitting driver pretty solid towards the end and I had down and off to the right, which is perfect wind for me.”

The wind caught the ball and parked it in a left bunker.

“It’s that one spot you can’t put it,” Reed said.

Reed carried his 8-under into the clubhouse, aware that Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo (69) and American Ricky Fowler (69) were two back. At 26, Reed is a Texan who ranks seventh in the playoff standings and 14th in the world. He holds no PGA Tour wins this year, but finished second twice.

He maintained that work done leading into the first FedEx Cup playoff event laid the foundation for his solid iron play. He also noted that he heard a rowdy crowd throughout the day as fans feted Phil Mickelson, who played in his group. It was Reed who brought spectators to their feet, though. His iron shot on No. 17 stirred the crowd when he put the ball within a foot of the cup.

“I knew I had a really good chance when all of a sudden you have a hundred people behind the green that are all sitting down, and all of them stand up,” Reed said. “I was like, ‘Ohhh, okay.’”

Day is familiar with the scene. With three top-10 finishes in majors this year, including a runner-up at the PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club last month, Day believes he can still send tremors up the leaderboard. He putted for birdie on No. 16 and it came up centimeters short, just stopping dead before the cup. On No. 18, he putted from 11 feet out for birdie but just missed.

Reed was in the clubhouse by then, having finished his round minutes earlier. Day followed his path, climbing the same stairs, crossing the same bridge and entering through the same doors.

Day had described the Black as “long” and “lush” in previous days. He also called it U.S. Open-style. He withstood the 93-degree heat to stand four shots back, and offered a new description.

“It’s just a brutal course,” he said.