[Photo: Getty images]
Jason Day has revealed a secret weapon helping him embrace all that Mother Nature will throw at him in the closing rounds at the Open Championship after climbing into contention at Royal Troon.
Day shot his way into contention on day two as wild winds claimed a number of high-profile victims including Day’s fellow Australian and 2022 Open champion, Cameron Smith, as well as Rory McIlroy and 15-time major winner Tiger Woods.
Former world No.1 Day said he had ramped up sessions with his long-time mind coach, Jason Goldsmith, knowing the horrendous conditions around Scotland’s South Ayrshire coastline would test his resolve.
Day battled whipping gusts and made good on his promise to shoot under par and get back into the Open Championship mix on day two at Royal Troon. The 13-time PGA Tour winner carded a three-under-par 68 only a day after a two-over73, to improve to one-under overall. He finished round two only six shots behind the leader, Shane Lowry (69) at seven-under.
Lowry led English duo, unheralded pro Daniel Brown (72) and 2013 US Open winner Justin Rose (68) by two shots. Billy Horschel (68), LIV golfer Dean Burmester (69) and Scottie Scheffler (70) were all tied fourth at two-under.
Photo: Ross Flannigan
Day said he was mentally ready for heavy rain forecast for Saturday’s third round and strong winds predicted for the final round. It’s going to be a wild weekend at the links major.
“I’ve worked with Jason Goldsmith for a long time now; I see him once a month or so,” Day said after round two. “I did a lot of really hard work coming up to this week; mental work to make sure I get my process right. You have to be patient in tough conditions, not play your way out of it. I play good in bad weather. Most people, their attitude just gets worse, and if you can have a good attitude, that you’ll play better in the end. Plus I’ve got a good short game. Sometimes when you know that you’re going to get tough conditions, trying to get anything around even par is a good score.”
Day, who was T2 at last year’s Open at Hoylake, got off to a flyer with two early birdies helping him to make the turn in two-under. One more birdie at the par-4 13th, and no bogeys, gave the 2015 PGA champion a 68.
“It definitely was (a good start) which was nice, and then to make birdie on 13 from out of the rough. We got lucky with the [Thursday afternoon/Friday morning side of the] draw, I feel. It was tough conditions yesterday but this morning, it calmed down for us. It was still a bit windy out there, but it calmed down for us through the first 12 holes. Once you start making the turn, around holes 9, 10, 11 and 12, through that stretch there, that’s when you have to hold on a little bit.”
Of the other Australians, Adam Scott carded a 77 to drop to five-over but he made the cut by one shot. “Man, it’s a pride thing, honestly, to make the cut at that number and be here for the weekend,” Scott said.
Min Woo Lee (80, nine-over), Elvis Smylie (75, nine-over) Jasper Stubbs (72, 10-over), and 2022 champion Cam Smith (74, 12-over) all missed the cut six-over cut.
Smylie looks for a ball after an errant tee shot. Photo: Ross Flannigan
