Old Westbury, Long Island, NY …
Jason Day produced what he described was a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde display on day two of the Notrthern Trust at Glen Oaks on New York’s Long Island.
Day commenced his round at one-under par but found himself two over for the tournament when he bogeyed the first and then at the par five third hole, and the longest on the course at 625-yards, he was in the trees right with no option but to chip out and finding the left rough.
He eventually reached the back of the green with his fourth, chipped-on and two-putted for a double-bogey ‘7’.
However, there more drama to follow when Day slipped to four-over in total in taking a double-bogey ‘6’ at the par four seventh hole where he fond a fairway bunker after a 311-yard booming drive and then only being able to advance his ball 120-yards and then finding a greenside bunker with his third.
Dr. Jeykll and Mr. Hyde – Jason Day linkens himself to the famed duo on day two of the Northern Trust.
‘Mr. Edward Hyde’ walked from his front nine five-over for his round and four-over for the $US 8.75m event and the first of the FedEx Cup Play-Off Series.
Onto the 10th tee walked ‘Dr. Henry Jekyll’ with Day remarkably producing a nine in very stark contrast to his outward half and producing four birdies, including three in succession from the 11th and none better a 77-yard wedge second shot to just three-feet at the water-guarded 11th hole.
Day then landed his tee shot at the par three, 15th to some 12-feet and knocked in the putt to get back to one-over for his round and evenutally signing for a 71 on the par-70 layout and get back to one-over for event in sharing 32nd place.
“I was 3-over pretty quick, especially after three holes, and it was kind of frustrating, really, because when you compare the two nines I was like two different persons,” he said.
Jason Day likens his outward five-over 40 and inward 31 a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde display. (Photo – @TourMiss)
“I was like, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
“The unforced errors that I have been doing this year happened all on the front side, and then the unbelievable play on the back side, it’s been mixed in.
“I look at the front side to the back side and I’m like, I mean, I absolutely look like an absolute chopper on the front side and on the back side I looked like one of the best players in the world.
“I’m sitting there scratching my head because I wish I could just pinpoint it, but obviously just making some silly errors and unforced errors out there.
“But the good thing about it is this course is actually quite difficult in regards that the scores, you know, it’s only 6-under right now. So two more days”.
And with Day just seven shots behind the leaders, and with two rounds to play, that is what he will now draw on heading to the weekend.
“That’s the thing that gave me a lot of hope on the back side the way I played, knowing that I could play some really good golf,” he said.
“It’s actually quite positive to see that, even though I am six back going into the weekend. But once again, I think if I can just slowly inch my way up and give myself into contention, hopefully I can start playing like I did on the back side today over the next two days.
“So, it’s there; I need to piece it together”.
