[Photo: Getty images]
Jason Day wants Scotland’s wind and rain to remain tough throughout Open Championship at Royal Troon, feeling his love of foul-weather could help him climb the leaderboard.
The former world No.1 fought through afternoon gusts and rain to finish eight shots off the pace after the first round at Troon. He almost lost two balls on one hole while racking up five bogeys for the round. Three birdies kept him in the mix and allowed for a respectable 73. At two-over-par, Day was eight shots behind surprise first-round leader, England’s Daniel Brown, who fired a scintillating 65 to lead at six-under on a rainy, windy Thursday in Scotland. He was one shot better than Shane Lowry while two-time PGA champion Justin Thomas was three-under (68).
One of Day’s bogeys came at the 12th, and it could have been worse if it weren’t for an eagle-eyed security official walking with his group. “I had a really good bogey on 12,” Day said after his round. “I had lost two balls right and found the first one when the military guy escorting us around was in the bush [and found it], so many thanks to him.”
Day in round one at Royal Troon. Picture: Ross Flannigan/Australian Golf Digest
With more rain and wind forecast for Saturday and Sunday’s third and fourth rounds, Day, the 2015 PGA champion, was licking his chops. He earned a career-best result at the Open last year with a T2 at Royal Liverpool in horrendous conditions during the final round.
“Yeah, my agent here, Bud [Martin], he always says when it’s terrible weather and I’m dreading going out, that I love that weather and it’s perfect for me. I tell it’s nice for him sitting in bloody player dining nice and warm,” Day said with a laugh. “My wife calls me a mud runner; typically when the weather gets worse, I start playing a bit better. Why? I don’t know. I actually dislike playing in bad weather, but I feel 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, for the most part.”
Day urged himself to be patient, shoot under par on day two and hang on for dear life. He hoped that would be enough to be in with a chance on the final day.
“You’ve just got to kind of ease your way back in,” he said. “Don’t be silly and take yourself out of the tournament. Just get yourself into contention on Sunday, and then who knows what will happen on the back nine.”
Meanwhile, Adam Scott, playing his 24th consecutive Open, shot a one-under 70 to sit five back of the lead. Min Woo Lee was next best of the Australians after an even-par 71. Young Queenslander Elvis Smylie was five-over (76) while Victorian amateur Jasper Stubbs and 2022 Open champion, Cameron Smith, both shot nine-over 80.
