It has taken Australian-born and Cleveland-based Jason Day now nine appearances in the Memorial to finally put himself into contention for victory on his ‘local’ course at Muirfield Village.

Day, 30 birdied four of his closing eight holes in a second straight score of 68 to move to eight-under par and a clubhouse share of the lead on day two of the $US 7.1m event.

Joining Day early atop of the board is 2014 Memorial winner, Hideki Matsuyama of Japan (71) and the American duo of Wesley Bryan (68) and J B Holmes (66).

Day is among a small handful to have won twice in this 2017/18 wraparound season having clinching the Farmers Insurance Open and more recently, the Wells Fargo Championship.

But for a player, and currently ranked No.8 in the world, the Muirfield course and located less than a 30-minute drive from his residence, and where Day is also a member, has not always been to his liking.

Aussie Jason Day walks his ‘local’ Muirfield Village course with Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and with the duo tied on eight-under par through two rounds. (Photo – @pgatour)

Day made his debut in the Jack Nicklaus hosted event in 2008 as a then 20-year old but duly missed the cut.  He returned a year later to share 27^th place.

The now father to two next competed in the 2012 Memorial only to again miss the cut and since then Day’s produced results of T41st (2013), T37th (2014), missed cut (2015), T27th (2o16) and last year a tournament best of T15th.

And Day’s lowest round was a 66 on day one two years ago.

Now Australia’s leading golfer is primed to continue a remarkable PGA victory run in recent years having won five times in 2015, four times last season and a hopeful third Tour title in some five months of 2018.

“This is my home course and I think I just sucked on it for a long time,” he said smiling.

“I didn’t really, I don’t think there was anything, any reason why, I just didn’t really play well, but I’m hopefully I can change that, because I feel different this year.

“I was just saying that I’ve just, I’ve got even two wins under my belt this year already, so you’re not trying to come into a week like this if you have no wins and trying to get something going or push it a little bit.

“On a golf course like this, you can’t short side yourself when the greens are quick and when you’re trying to push things and trying to get things going for the season, you can typically get yourself into some pretty poor positions.

“So, over the last 10 years it’s taken me awhile, I think I know where the bad positions are now.”

Matsuyama had the distinction in 2014 of winning on debut in the Memorial to become only the second player since American Roger Maltbie in the inaugural event in 1976.

However, after an opening round of 65 the current World No. 10 struggled in adding a 71 as he seeks a sixth Tour title and a first since last August.

“I am especially happy that I’m playing well here,” he said.

“This is a great tournament, it’s like a major, even though it’s a preparation for me for a major, but I’m pleased.”