Ponte Vedre, Florida …
Australia’s Jason Day has not only placed himself in contention for a second Players Championship success but thanks to his work with his long-time coach he is also on track for a career third back-to-back PGA Tour success.
The reigning Wells Fargo Champion added a second round bogey-free five–under 67 to move to eight-under par in very hot and humid conditions on the Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass at Ponte Vedre in Florida.
Day’s effort, and in an event he captured two years ago, has ignited hopes of the 30-year Ohio-based golfer savouring success for a second straight event three times running.
Day captured the 2015 PGA Championship and in his next event he won the Barclays Championship in New Jersey.
Two years ago, Day won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the a week later he was handed the WGC – Dell Match-Play trophy.
And Day has credited again being in contention, and five days after winning a 12th PGA Tour title to his work with coach and fellow Australian, Col Swanton.
“This week I’ve just got Col in as I usually don’t bring Col into tournaments only because I typically like to work
with him before events, but I’ve had a three week stretch here, and I can kind of feel the swing’s getting a
little bit loose,” said Day.
“We just tried to even out the path a little bit, kind of trying to get it back to zero and trying to get the ball starting straighter, because I typically like hitting it dead straight. I’d like to say I hit it dead straight all the time, but I don’t.
“Once I started seeing a lot of turn this way on the weekend, I knew something was up, and I knew that I was getting too far on the inside, but I just didn’t know how to react to it.”
And after his second Sawgrass round, that included five birdies, Day was asked to assess his game ahead of the closing two rounds in the $11m event.
“I’m coming off some confidence, I guess and I think when you win, you get a little bit more motivated to do more practice and hungry to win a lot more,” he said.
“It’s a little bit of two things, I think it’s coming off good form and wanting it more and just trying to keep pushing until — because it goes like this; it’s up-and-down.
“I think if I can keep pushing but be smart about it, I feel like can I win in bunches.”
