World No. 1 Jason Day showed enough over the first round to send out a warning to his rivals he’s not about to hand back the Barclays Championship crown in a hurry.
The Australian began his round from the 10th tee and the tougher nine on the infamous Bethpage Park Black course managing a one under par 34 ahead of three birdies and a bogey over the inward half of the course for his score of a three under par 68.
If left Day trailing just two shots behind the leading duo of Scotland’s Martin Laird and Texan Patrick Reed.
Twelve months ago, Day made it back-to-back victories in capturing the PGA Championship and then heading to Planfield, New Jersey a fortnight later to bank victory in the Barclays
Jason Day admits he was a little rusty on day one in the defence of his Barclays Championship title.
Championship.
And unlike a year ago, Day teed-up on the Black Course not having played in some four weeks since going so close and finishing runner-up in the defence of his PGA Championship at Baltusrol.
“It was just a little bit I think more so rust, a bit of mental rust than physical rust, as well,” said Day following his round.
“I shouldn’t say rust; it’s more the sharpness wasn’t quite there when you’re about two or three tournaments in.
“Overall, I felt great about how I felt like I played. Did a lot of good quality things out there, and hopefully I can just keep pushing that from the second to fourth round now”.
A check of Day’s statistics shows he struggled somewhat with the driver as he later confirmed.
“It’s more so with the driver. I just kind of, a little bit wide with the driver,”he said.
“But for the most part, the irons and the touch was on point. But we’ve got a lot of rounds left. Especially around this golf course, it’s a U.S. Open style track and the conditions are phenomenal.
“The greens staff have done a tremendous job with the golf course. And if we miss this storm that’s going to come tomorrow, it’s going to make it very, very difficult for the rest of the week and firm it out. If that happens, single digits most likely will win.”
And while a little rusty when it came to the longest club in the bag, Day admits it will be the player with the sharpest mental outlook who should succeed in capturing this week’s $US 1.3m first prize cheque.
“If you’re trying to win a tournament such as The Barclays, first FedExCup Playoff event, the best players in the world are playing here, and it is a U.S. Open-style golf course,” he admitted.
“It’s very difficult. So the guy — like I said earlier, the guy that at the end of the week, you have to manage your golf ball well around here, but it’s the guy that manages up here the best is going to win, because he’s going to do everything he possibly can not to fall for the little things out there, gather all the information he can and go from there.”
Fellow Aussie Adam Scott is also already well-placed signing for a two under par 69 and one fewer than fellow Queenslander John Senden.
However Aaron Baddeley had a round he would rather forget posting a five over par 76.
