Jason Day starts well at Augusta National
Jason Day in action during round one – image Augusta National
Jason Day has finished the opening day of the 2026 Masters as the leading Australasian and just two shots off the lead of Rory McIlroy and Brad Burns after his round of 69, and is shaping as a potential contender as the week progresses.
Perhaps surprisingly, Day was quoted by many betting agencies early in the week at odds of 80 to 1, and while it is early days yet, his record at Augusta National and his early-season form in 2026, suggested those were very generous odds.
After a slow start to the round when he bogeyed the 3rd, Day two putted from long range at the par 5 8th and was back to even par when he made the turn.
He then holed a 20-footer for birdie at the dangerous 12th, hit it to 3 feet after laying up at the par 5 13th for another birdie, saved a fine par at the 14th, and then, to top things off, he hit his tee shot at the 16th to 3 feet and converted to move to 3 under, where he stayed.
Generally, Day has a good record at Augusta National, having gone so close to winning on debut in 2011 and finishing 3rd a year later.
“I got off to a bit of a shaky start today,” said the 38-year-old. “I mean, had a nice up and down on one and then hooked my ball, tee ball on two. You know, then obviously made bogey on 3.
“So I was just trying to steady the ship, knowing that there is just — with the pin locations we had today, there are certain locations on the green where you just have to hit them. Even if you leave yourself 60 feet, that’s fine. Just get in there, make your par, move on.
Day was reminded of his good performances over the years at the Masters and responded, “Yeah, definitely. I mean, obviously, McIlroy has got off to a great start. What did he do? Birdied 14 and 15. Burnsy is playing great. When I see 5-under leading, and with what weather we got coming up, I’ve just got to be very patient.
“Obviously, I’m looking at him (McIlroy) right now because the leaderboard is staring me right in the face. Obviously, he’s off to a great start defending the championship, the Masters.
“So, yeah, there are plenty of great golfers out there that you have to worry about as well. Not just him. And first and foremost, you’ve got to worry about yourself. Just make sure you’re doing the right things.
“If you can do that and execute the shots that you need to, then hopefully things should take care of themselves.”
Adam Scott did next best of the Australasians, but at one stage through the middle of his round, he appeared to be playing himself out of the tournament.
Scott made the turn in 2 over 38, but then came a birdie from behind the green at the 12th and a brilliantly executed second from a hanging, downhill lie at the par 5 13th to six feet, which he converted for an eagle to move under par.
His second shot to the par 5 15th, found the green but then fed back into the water, and bogey was the result, but he responded with a birdie at the 16th after a stunning tee shot to 5 feet before finding the fairway and greenside bunker at the last to finish with a bogey and a round of 72.
“Yeah, I mean, it’s not easy out there,” said Scott. “Though the wind is not blowing hard, it was moving around. I felt like on several shots today, every time I was committing to a shot, the wind felt like it moved around, so it made it very hard to start again and recommit.
“It’s tricky because on some of the shots it’s like if you make the wrong choice it starts — you’re figuring out how to not have a disaster happen. That’s how this course is.
“It’s not right on the edge, but it’s playing nice and firm, where you can get yourself in a lot of trouble if you lose control somewhere.
“So, I feel all right with today, if it was my off round. I would like to get a bit better rhythm going out on the golf course and in my swing for the next couple of days, and I’ll be right there.
“I wish I had finished under par today. I don’t know why that one shot better feels like such a better accomplishment than even, but it does, the red number.
“But I’m right there. I didn’t shoot myself out of it. That’s what majors are kind of all about sometimes. Then you look to take advantage of your good stuff the next few days.”
Of the other Australasians, Cam Smith finished with a round of 74, Ryan Fox 77, and, perhaps surprisingly, Min Woo Lee 78.
The cut tomorrow appears as if it will fall around 5 or 6 over.
