JASON Day has put aside a lower back injury to shoot himself into contention after the first round of the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta, Georgia.
The 28-year-old sensationally withdrew after just eight holes of the final round at the BMW Championship two weeks ago, with a complaint in his lower back, but fired a solid 3-under 67 at the par-70 East Lake Golf Club to earn a realistic chance of claiming the $10 million ($AU 13 million) FedEx Cup bonus prize.
The world No.1 started ominously with a bogey at the par-4 first, but carded four birdies on the way home to sit only a shot back of a four-way tie for the lead shared by BMW Champion Dustin Johnson and fellow American Kevin Chapell, as well as Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.
Adam Scott is the only other Australian to make it to the 30-man finale of the lucrative FedEx Cup playoffs series and he fired an up-and-down 1-under par 69.
The 36-year-old cancelled out a front-nine birdie with a dropped shot, and mirrored that inconsistency on the back nine with three birdies and two bogeys.
Both Australians are seeded in the all important top-five of the FedEx Cup rankings, meaning they automatically claim the $AU 13 million bonus should they win the Tour Championship.
Best. Day. Ever.https://t.co/Owlck1cb6I
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 22, 2016
There has only been one eagle on No. 18 today.
Compliments of Paul Casey. #QuickHits https://t.co/jJlvCXb7fL
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 22, 2016
What a roller-coaster round for Rory. 🎢 pic.twitter.com/Str3Brpl5t
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 22, 2016
Clubhouse leader: Kevin Chappell. pic.twitter.com/6h5MldznlZ
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 22, 2016
Well done, Hideki.
1st in SG: Putting.
1st on the leaderboard. pic.twitter.com/Xdyfb7tJZb— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 22, 2016
Si Woo Kim has the most hole-outs on TOUR this season.
Add another one to the list. #QuickHits https://t.co/i5FBRAShX0
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 22, 2016
That one deserves a high five. ✋#QuickHits https://t.co/7bkvE2muu3
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 22, 2016
Dustin Johnson made birdie from here. 👇🏻#QuickHits https://t.co/PDNWH6Tp2w
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 22, 2016
When you get in trouble …
You've just got to get out of trouble.#QuickHits https://t.co/yfn2dDFOXF
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 22, 2016