Jason Day threatening to run away with The Players Championship
So far, the only thing that’s been able to slow down Jason Day at The Players Championship has been darkness.
Day expanded his lead on Friday in Round 2, carrying a three-shot lead into the resumption of the second round on Saturday after an extended weather delay kept the 144-player field from wrapping up 36 holes.
The world No. 1 opened a two-shot lead on Thursday after tying the competitive course record at TPC Sawgrass with 9-under 63. Day took advantage on Thursday of an early tee time, benign weather and receptive putting surfaces. Similar conditions prevailed on Friday, with Day taking advantage of the easier holes on the front side to go out in 3-under 33.
After the delay, Day, playing alongside Jordan Spieth and Branden Grace, managed to save par after a poor tee shot at the short par-4 12th. Then after a mediocre approach to the par-3 13th, Day drained a 38-foot downhill putt for birdie to spark the crowd. After a good drive on the 486-yard 14th, he stuck his approach inside 3 feet for a simple birdie.
At 14 under par with four holes to finish in his second round, Day is threatening to run away with this tournament. He has an opportunity on the par-5 16th and potentially on the par-3 17th, depending on the weather conditions on Saturday morning.
“I will have some opportunities on 15 and 16, as well,” Day said after play was called for the day. “[No.] 16 will be downwind. Hopefully I can hit some solid shots and try to get a few more birdies.”
If Day can finish off his round at par or better, he’ll at least match The Players 36-hole scoring record, set at 130 by Day’s childhood hero Greg Norman in 1994. That week, back when The Players was a March event, Norman went on to win by four shots with a tournament-record 24-under 264.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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