JASON’S DAY TO FORGET
Opening 77 a disaster
QUEENSLANDER Jason Day didn’t hold back in assessing his play during a firstround US Masters blowout, saying he did “absolutely nothing right” and has grown “discouraged” in his own game.
The 2015 PGA Championship winner has worked hard to rebuild his swing over the past two years after a series of back injuries, while he hoped to contend this year at the Masters, where he has three top-five finishes.
But those dreams were dashed inside 18 nightmarish holes yesterday, which included seven bogeys and two birdies for a five-over 77 – eight shots back of clubhouse leaders Brian Harman and Hideki Matsuyama.
Asked how he would assess his play, Day said: “Terrible.
“I mean, it’s just frustrating. I did absolutely nothing right today, which is unfortunate, so
I’ve got to go back to the range, work on some stuff. Go to the putting green, work on that as well.”
He added: “I tell you what, it’s severely frustrating over the last year-and-a-half, two years.
“Sometimes I get discouraged out there but, it is what it is. I’ve just got to try to focus on trying to stay patient.”
Day was one-under through the first six holes but unravelled with three-consecutive bogeys before making the turn at two-over.
He said he then struggled reading the wind on the back nine and continually compounded his errors.
Day hit 71 per cent of fairways but converted that into just 50 per cent of greens in regulation, while he hit 1.72 putts a hole compared to the field average of 1.67.
“I got off to a good start through six holes, was playing pretty solid, then I didn’t really get out of position, just (my) short game didn’t show up and then on top of it I didn’t hit the shots I needed to out there,” Day said.
Day said he would go back to the practice facilities and continue to work hard on his game, but admitted it’s been taking its toll.
“I’ve been working very, very hard on my game and I’ve got absolutely nothing out of it, so I’ve just got to keep working,” Day said.
Englishman Justin Rose (pictured) humbled a firm and fast Augusta National layout that wreaked havoc upon many of the world’s top golfers, seizing a four-stroke lead.
Rose, the 2013 US Open champion, birdied five of the last seven holes in shooting a seven-under par 65, his career-low score by two strokes in 59 Masters rounds.
The 40-year-old defied a lightning-fast layout that baffled his rivals by going nine-under over the last 11 holes, the best such Masters closing run by any golfer since 2004.
“The start was slow but a little bit of experience kicked in, knowing it was a tough day out here,” Rose said. “I knew if I could keep it near par it would be a good day.”
Rose, a Masters runnerup in 2015 and 2017, also led after 18 holes in 2004, 2007 and 2008.
“Even if I haven’t got an arm in the jacket yet, I feel like I’ve been there to see what it’s all about,” Rose said.
Augusta National welcomed the first spectators at a major championship since 2019 after COVID-19 forced a ban on fans.