ORLANDO, Florida – There is a banner at the entrance to the Arnold
Palmer Invitational and hanging in the tournament media center that
shows a young Arnold Palmer at the height of his powers. To the left of
the image are the words: “The road to success is always under
construction.”
Words for all to live by, especially for another young buck on the verge of achieving greatness. Having reached the pinnacle last season with his first major title and World No. 1 status, Jason Day is trying to pave a new route back to the top. He took a step in the right direction Thursday, recording eight 3s on his scorecard en route to shooting an opening-round 6-under 66, his lowest round in 15 trips around Bay Hill, for a one-stroke lead over fellow Aussies Adam Scott and Marc Leishman and three other competitors.
“I killed the par 5s, which was fantastic,” said Day, who played them in 5 under.
Day carried momentum from his last start at Doral two weeks ago and raced to three birdies in his first eight hole until he snap-hooked his tee shot out of bounds and made double bogey at the ninth. But Day didn’t let it derail his round. He bounced back by touring the second side in 5-under 31.
“Earlier in the season,” he said, “I wouldn’t have moved on as well.”
In seeking to regain the form that propelled him to five victories last season, Day sought advice from Tiger Woods, who won this event eight times.
“Almost this close to asking, ‘Have you got any advice for me (for this event)?’ ” Day said.
The 28-year-old Aussie did just fine on his own. He birdied Nos. 12, 13 and 15 before he canned an 11-foot eagle putt at the par-5 16th.
Day said he gains confidence through his practice and claims he’s been “working his butt off.” The biggest difference in his game this season has been a lack of focus. But not in Round 1.
“The lines that I see when I visualize, they're starting to come out kind of similar to what I'm actually hitting,” he said. “So, it's coming around nicely. I wouldn't say it's kind of midseason form like it was last year, but it's getting closer and closer every time I play.”
Day’s best finish so far in four starts in the 2015-16 season is a share of 10th at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Day was encouraged by his show of mental toughness and his sharper focus but refused to let himself jump ahead. He’s savvy enough to know that Friday is another day.
“This is one good round,” he said, “one good round in the right direction, and that's something I just have to build on, and if I can build on that, that would be great, especially with obviously the upcoming tournament that everyone is talking about at Augusta.”
SCROLL DOWN FOR A REPORT ON RORY
McILROY'S 75 AFTER DRIVING OOB AT HOLE 1
Words for all to live by, especially for another young buck on the verge of achieving greatness. Having reached the pinnacle last season with his first major title and World No. 1 status, Jason Day is trying to pave a new route back to the top. He took a step in the right direction Thursday, recording eight 3s on his scorecard en route to shooting an opening-round 6-under 66, his lowest round in 15 trips around Bay Hill, for a one-stroke lead over fellow Aussies Adam Scott and Marc Leishman and three other competitors.
“I killed the par 5s, which was fantastic,” said Day, who played them in 5 under.
Day carried momentum from his last start at Doral two weeks ago and raced to three birdies in his first eight hole until he snap-hooked his tee shot out of bounds and made double bogey at the ninth. But Day didn’t let it derail his round. He bounced back by touring the second side in 5-under 31.
“Earlier in the season,” he said, “I wouldn’t have moved on as well.”
In seeking to regain the form that propelled him to five victories last season, Day sought advice from Tiger Woods, who won this event eight times.
“Almost this close to asking, ‘Have you got any advice for me (for this event)?’ ” Day said.
The 28-year-old Aussie did just fine on his own. He birdied Nos. 12, 13 and 15 before he canned an 11-foot eagle putt at the par-5 16th.
Day said he gains confidence through his practice and claims he’s been “working his butt off.” The biggest difference in his game this season has been a lack of focus. But not in Round 1.
“The lines that I see when I visualize, they're starting to come out kind of similar to what I'm actually hitting,” he said. “So, it's coming around nicely. I wouldn't say it's kind of midseason form like it was last year, but it's getting closer and closer every time I play.”
Day’s best finish so far in four starts in the 2015-16 season is a share of 10th at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. Day was encouraged by his show of mental toughness and his sharper focus but refused to let himself jump ahead. He’s savvy enough to know that Friday is another day.
“This is one good round,” he said, “one good round in the right direction, and that's something I just have to build on, and if I can build on that, that would be great, especially with obviously the upcoming tournament that everyone is talking about at Augusta.”
SCROLL DOWN FOR A REPORT ON RORY
McILROY'S 75 AFTER DRIVING OOB AT HOLE 1
SC
Labels: US PGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Friday, March 18, 2016
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