Jason Day is both surprised and excited to be in position to again capture a maiden Major Championship title but then he’s smart enough to realise he faces a tough assignment if he is to deny World No. 1 Rory McIlroy.
The 26-year old Australian birdied his closing two holes in a six-under par 65 and move to within a stroke of McIlroy tied with Jim Furyk in second place on eight under par.
McIlroy had come from a shot behind at the commencement to the second round and muscle his way to a two shot clubhouse lead before Day and Furyk, who were out in the afternoon half of the draw, ended their rounds trailing a stroke adrift.
Day capped his round landing his 246-yard second shot over water and onto the green at the par five, seventh hole and then sinking the 14-foot putt for an eagle.
Jason Day surprised and excited to be in contention again for a maiden Major. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
He then holed a six-foot putt at the par three, eighth hole to move to seven under par.
However a bogey at 15 checked the progress of the reigning WGC – Accenture Match-Play champion ahead of his superb finish when Day holed birdie putts of six feet at 17, and then at the last chipped from just in front of a bunker to three feet and holed the birdie putt on the last.
“I think we got lucky with the draw out there today, teeing off in the afternoon as we didn’t get much rain whereas the guys out this morning, and I’ve seen some pictures of some of the guys this morning, had to play in pouring rain,” he said.
“But in saying that I played great. I got off to a good start and the last thing I had expected was to shoot 30 on the front nine.
“I put some good shots together out there today to give myself opportunities and I really took advantage of the front nine while the back nine was a little tougher.
“The only disappointment was the one bogey on the back nine but I finished strong with a couple of birdies there at 17 and 18.”
In fact, it was Day’s lowest score in 13 rounds of the PGA Championship and a stroke fewer than his 66 on the third day of the 2010 PGA in finishing T10th on debut at Whistling Straits.
Day arrived in the Blue Grass State having endured a wretched season through well-documented injury but for a first time since capturing the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship he felt good about his game and his physical well-being despite admitting his ‘doggy digit’ was still not 100%.
So it did come as a surprise to two-time PGA Tour winner to be sharing second place with two rounds to play.
“It is a little surprising as I wasn’t expecting it,” he said.
“I’ve been in just poor form that I’ve had over the last, you know, few tournaments that I’ve played.
Jason Day to play the third round of the 96th PGA alongside World No. 1 Rory McIlroy. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“But we worked very, very hard last week before I had the vertigo, and then after ‑‑ when I came in Monday, Monday through Wednesday, did phenomenal preparation. I busted my butt out there and worked very, very hard.
“So yes, I’m a little surprised that it’s kind of turned around so quick, but ‑‑ just trying to think of the word that I’m going to say.
“Obviously I’ve done the right things to get to where I am to be in the Top‑10 in the world. So it’s not my first time that I’ve been here. And I’ve hit a million golf balls, a million chips, a million putts and I’ve done it for a long time.
“So I’m just happy to be close to the lead coming into the weekend. Hopefully being able to play with Rory in the last group tomorrow would be fun. I think it would be a good challenge. It would be exciting to watch him play.
“But I’ve still got a lot of golf to play and I just have to go out there and play my own game.”
As Day pointed out he’s no stranger to putting himself in position to win a maiden Major including leading at one stage over the final round of last year’s Masters when he eagled Augusta’s second hole to move to the front.
Indeed, Day was leading by two shots standing on the 16th tee ahead of fellow Aussie and good friend Adam Scott winning though in a play-off over Angel Cabrera to become the first Australian to be fitted with the famed green jacket.
“I’m excited and you can’t not be excited to be in or around the lead in a major championship,” he said.
“Obviously they are the hardest tournaments to win.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a lot of fun.
“But I’ve been ‑‑ like you said, I’ve been close a lot of times. I’ve said it before; I just have to keep knocking on the door and hopefully it will fall my way one day. It’s either hopefully it falls my way or just knock the door down and take it.
“I’m clearly not the favorite. With how Rory is playing, especially over the last few tournaments; this whole year he’s been playing great. He looks confident. He’s hitting the ball longer and straighter than pretty much everyone in the field.
“It’s going to be tough to beat him. But then again, there’s a lot of great golfers behind us that are in form, as well.
“It’s going to be a tough tournament to try and win, obviously with McIlroy, how he’s playing, he could run away with things again. So I’m going to hopefully try and keep pace.”
And Day was asked if he could recall the first time meeting McIlroy was during a practice round ahead of the 2005 Australian Masters at Huntingdale.
“I remember first meeting Rory when he was about 16 and we played a practice round, as there was me, McIroy, Ollie Fisher and Paul Casey,” he said.
“But then I played alongside him a few times since and we’ve become good friends.”
