The look of confidence that has been missing much of the year from his eyes has clearly returned and with Jason Day, at long last, sounding good about himself and his game following an opening round of 69 on day one of the 96th PGA Championship.
Not since he captured the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship earlier this season has the Australian felt so pleased after a round of golf.
The 26-year old dropped just one shot on the opening day of the season-ending Major to be lying just four shots from the leading trio of England’s Lee Westwood and the American duo of Kevin Chappell and Ryan Palmer.
Jason Day feeling positive about his well being and game for a first really this year since his Match-Play success. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
“I had a couple of three-putts out there but on the whole my golf game felt really good,” he said.
“I undertook some good work last week despite withdrawing from the Bridgestone but did some really good prep work coming here to Kentucky.
“So it is a good start and I am just hoping now the weather permits we can get some golf because it is definitely out there if you hit the right shots and that’s why the scores are they way they are right now.
“It’s been a long time but I am really pleased with the way how I played today.”
Since capturing a first WGC title earlier this year in Arizona, Day has been plagued by injury but none tougher than having to deal with the after affects of injuring his left thumb prior to the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
However Day compounded the injury in jarring the same thumb in hitting a tree root, and incidentally the same tree to the right side of the 13th hole at Augusta National from where Phil Mickelson had played such a glorious shot last year in the Masters.
Day’s doggy digit in recent months has become one of the most talked about thumbs in sport.
However he seems to have put the nagging injury behind him and is looking forward to not only contending this week but also performing well in the up-coming FedEx Play-Off Series and then when he returns to Australia in late November for the Australian Open.
“I’m excited now right now as my thumb is feeling nice and I’m happy where I am,” he said.
“It means I am able to focus a little harder on my golf while I my mental discipline is returning and that part of my game is now up to par. Today I made sure I gave every shot 100% and just played great.
“So, it’s been a while since I felt this good after a round of golf and now after getting off to such a good start, I can hopefully keep it going. I’m excited too about what now lays ahead this week.
“But then I’ve got the Play-Off Series coming up and that’s got me excited, and while my thumb it not fully 100%, it’s not sure and I’m looking forward more than I have been also for a long while in getting onto the range and hitting balls and practice without any concern.
“So I can now also plan to play out in Asia and China and get myself down to Oz for the Australian Open.”
