The grim days appear to be over for Jason Day, who has hauled himself out of a career slump to surge up the leaderboard at two recent tournamants.

The latest indication that Day is back comes with his tie for second midway through the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invitational but local product Patrick Cantlay already looks hard to catch.

Cantlay, who grew up just down the coast from LA’s Riviera Country Club and played nearby at UCLA, grabbed a five-shot lead after a second round six-under 65 took him to 13 under in a tournament which lost biggest drawcard Tiger Woods to illness.

Day got a hot start with an opening eagle but was left ruing three back-nine bogeys after posting a 69 to be tied with Luke List (69) and Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes (65).

His back-nine issues were exceeded by fellow Australian Cam Davis, who had five straight bogeys from the 12th hole in a 73 and tumbled down the leaderboard to be tied 11th at four under.

Tiger’s nasty flu

Woods made another early exit, this one because of flu symptoms instead of his injured body. He withdrew after six holes and spent the next two hours getting intravenous fluids before leaving Riviera, along with a big chunk of the gallery.

Day put some of his lost shots down to slight inaccuracy off the tee, a symptom of the swing changes he has made to overcome injuries.

“Overall I’m obviously very pleased with where I’m at, but I know that I could be a lot better considering where I was after 10 and three-putting 11 and then bogeying 12 and 13,” former world No.1 Day said.

Will Zalatoris sank a hole-in-one at the par-3 14th hole, winning one new car for himself and one for his caddie. He shot a 70 to join Xander Schauffele (66) and Tom Hoge (70) in a tie at six under, one behind Corey Conners (65)

This signature event had a 36-hole cut to the top 50 and ties and anyone within 10 shots, which wasn’t a factor the way Cantlay was playing. The cut was at one-over 143, eliminating Pebble Beach winner Wyndham Clark and Justin Thomas.

Australia’s Adam Scott made the weekend, shooting a 68 to be tied 31st at two under.

-AAP