Jason Day begins 2023 well in La Quinta
Jason Day – file photo
Jason Day has recorded just two top tens on the PGA Tour in the last twelve months but in his first event of 2023 he has himself nicely positioned at the American Express Championship.
The 35 year old is in a five way share of 3rd place and although five shots from the rookie leader, David Thompson, his improvement is most encouraging.
Day is playing this three course event for just the second occasion in his 15 year PGA Tour career but a second round of 64 over the more demanding Stadium Course layout in Palm Springs saw him improve 24 places to his share of 3rd and although he has yet to play the La Quinta Country Club before the 54 hole cut is made tomorrow, his game appears in fine enough shape to challenge on Sunday.
“It’s nice to be able to get that course out of the way,” said Day referring to the fact that the Stadium Course is typically the most difficult of the three layouts used in the opening 54 holes.
“Got La Quinta tomorrow. So typically, that yields more birdies than these two courses over here. So, but like everyone’s saying, you can’t get ahead of yourself too. Because if you start thinking about it too much you can definitely go out there and just have an average day. So I got to try and stay as focused as possible and just take it as it comes.
“I feel good. I’ve been feeling great actually for a good long while now. So just been kind of seeing myself healthier. I feel like I’m doing the right things. Not only on the golf course, but off the golf course as well. That’s kind of yielded into, I feel like, a better motion at it out here on the golf course.
“Still some of the stuff, the old stuff is in there still, but I kind of got to work through that slowly. Because if I try and press too hard on some of the swing changes the body doesn’t really adapt that quick and can potentially hurt certain areas of your body. But overall this past year to, six months to a year it’s been really, really good for me. So I feel pretty good.”
Day was asked why he decided to play this week when this has not typically been on his schedule.
“Typically in the past I would, if I’m not in Hawaii I would go straight to Torrey. And, I mean, I felt like I was playing like a U.S. Open times a thousand when you go from doing nothing for a month to two months and you go straight to Torrey and you’re playing.
“This way I can come to a tournament like this where typically the conditions are like this and you can kind of see where the game’s at then adjust accordingly going into next week.”
The leader, 23 year old Thompson, is playing his first season on the PGA Tour after graduating via the Korn Ferry Tour last year and will take a two shot lead over Jon Rahm into the final 36 holes.
He has already produced a couple of good finishes in his first few events and joined a select group of golfers to have recorded five eagles in 36 holes in a PGA Tour event.
“I think it has to do a lot with last year,” said Thompson referring to his apparent comfort zone at this level. “Playing on the Korn Ferry Tour and also just playing on some sponsor exemptions out here right when I turned pro. I’m still a rookie, still learning these golf courses, but there is a comfort level to kind of know what to expect at every tournament.
“Watching this tournament for a couple years now I always see the winning score being so low. So, you kind of really don’t have a choice, you just got to keep hitting greens and giving yourself looks and trying to make the putts. I was just fortunate enough to make a lot of putts these first two days. But, yeah, it is easy to stall out, but at the same time, if you just stay present minded and focus on one shot at a time you’ll give yourself a lot of opportunities.”
New Zealand’s Danny Lee is tied for 21st at 9 under and four behind Day, while Harrison Endycott is 34th.
Aaron Baddeley and Cameron Davis are further back and have a task if they are to make the 54 hole cut tomorrow.
