Compleat Golfer’s cover star Jason Day shot a nine-under-par 63 at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday to lead round one of The Players Championship by two strokes over a five-way tie for second.
‘I can’t really recall the way that I hit the ball as well as I did today and then also putting as well as I did,’ he said. ‘I’ve shot scores lower, but I think from tee to green and then on the green and then being patient and everything kind of just clicked today.’
The world number one made no mistakes in the first round and peppered his card with nine birdies, including four in a row from the ninth to the 12th. His choice to play irons off the tee paid dividends.
Day’s last round at TPC Sawgrass was an 81 from 364 days ago, so his change in gameplan in Ponte Vedra Beach is working. On Thursday he matched the course record held by Greg Norman, Fred Couples, Roberto Castro, Martin Kaymer, and Jason Day.
‘I would have loved to shoot 10-under and be the only guy to hold that record, but I’m in pretty good company with the guys that have shot that, especially with Greg Norman and the way he played,’ said Day.
‘If I can keep it up, that would be great … but right now I’ve just got to try and focus on trying to win this tournament and trying to play a good round two,’ he added.
