Day, Scott still down as Bjorn leads World Cup
Australia’s Jason Day is proud he held himself together on a day in which he and Adam Scott played well but failed to make ground in golf’s World Cup.
Day started Friday’s second round at Royal Melbourne two shots off the lead, Scott was nine off the pace and as a team, they were six shots adrift.
By day’s end, Day was four off the lead, Scott still nine adrift and their hopes of winning the Cup for Australia had sunk further, as they fell seven shots behind leaders the United States.
It could have been much better.
Day is still well in contention for individual honours, equal third after shooting a one-under-par 70 to take him to four-under.
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn leads on eight under, with American Kevin Streelman a shot back in second.
But after Day had his only bogey of the day on the par-4 11th, birdie putts lipped out on the 12th and 13th holes.
On the 17th, his approach rolled over the hole and his birdie putt of less than three metres ended up teetering on the edge, but also wouldn’t drop.
“This course can make you want to snap your clubs over your knees,” Day said.
“It’s really hard to control that frustration sometimes.”
The support of a large band of parochial fans and some calming words from caddie Col Swatton helped.
Day said he was happy to still shoot one under and it had been vital he didn’t let his round slip away.
“This is a kind of course that will frustrate you and make you make mental errors and you just can’t let that happen, you can’t let the course beat you up,” Day said.
Scott, who shot a four-over 75 on Thursday, also had his frustrating moments despite carding 68 on Friday to climb to one over.
The world No.2 had three birdies in a bogey-free front nine.
But he also lipped out for eagle after a brilliant drive on the 285m par-4 sixth and then lipped out again with his birdie putt from a little over a metre.
He lost ground with a double-bogey on the par-4 11th, when he reached a greenside bunker in one, but needed two bunker shots and three putts, leaving the only blemish on his card for the round.
