Now THAT is how you open a tournament.
Jason Day fired a first-round 63 at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday. The number ties a Players Championship single-day record, and showcased why the Australian has ascended to the No. 1 world ranking.
Here are two takeaways from Day’s marvelous Round 1 performance:
1. So much for those iron issues
Earlier this week, TV analyst Brandel Chamblee criticized Day’s approach game, and he wasn’t wrong: Day ranked 195th in proximity to the hole. Yet on Thursday, the 28-year-old hit 15 greens in regulation. He wasn’t that far off on the three that he missed either, using the putter from the fringe on each missed dance floor.
2. Driving accuracy is overrated
At least compared to driving distance. Day found just eight fairways on Thursday, well below the field’s average in the round. Day was able to negate erraticism thanks to routine bombs off the tee. Watch all Day’s highlights below courtesy of the US PGA Tour:
Round 1 is in the books at TPC Sawgrass.
Here's a look at how Jason Day carded a 63 to take a two-shot lead. https://t.co/dYECafAKXE
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2016
