Australian Jason Day is ready to draw first blood when the snow struck WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship hopefully gets back underway later today (Thursday).
Day was 6up after seven holes in his match against former Masters champion, Zach Johnson when a snow storm stopped play just after 1pm local time on the desert course in Arizona.
The US-based Aussie is competing in the event for a third straight year and looking to improve on last years effort when he humbled 6 & 5 by fellow Queenslander John Senden in the second round.
* American Rickie Fowler hurls snowballs at fellow Match-Play competitors in the parking lot. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
Day drew on his s superior length to sit 16 feet from the hole for eagle, won the hole witeh birdie and then snatched the ninth as well to be 6-up.
“Then I was trying to win the 10th and 11th, because then I would have been done, that was the goal,” Day said.
“I had a good chance at birdie on 10, but unfortunately I didn’t make it.
* Fans battle snow during the first round of the Accenture Match-Play Championship. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
“I was listening to Tiger Woods’ interview last night, and he said, because we play only 18 holes, you have to get off to a good start and try and keep that lead.
“That’s pretty much all I tried to do.”
As good as his lead is, the 25-year-old was trying not to get ahead of himself knowing from experience a match isn’t over until it’s over.
* What was supposed to be a walk around the golf course turned into a walk in the snow for this couple. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
Day came from 3-down with three to play in round one last year, winning four straight holes to win in 19 holes over Rafael Cabrera-Bello before then losing out to Senden.
“I can take a lot of positives out of today,” said Day to AAP’s chief golf correspondent, Ben Everill.
“But once it comes to resuming I kind of have to get back into that game mode, try to get back into a good frame of mind and make sure that I start off thinking that we’re all square.
* This golf cart would not be out of place on the ski slopes of Colorado. (Photo -www.pgatour.com)
“I do have that lead, but I want to make sure that I try and get in the house.”
