Disappointing finish costly for Jason Day in Paris

Jason Day – in action this week – image PGA Tour / IGF

At one stage during round three of the Olympic Golf’s men’s competition, Australia’s Jason Day had moved into second position and just two shots off the then leader Tommy Fleetwood but a bogey at the par 5 14th and another at the 17th will have him heading into tomorrow’s final round in 10th place and five shots behind the joint 54 hole leaders, Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele.

Day began the day six shots from the lead of Rahm, Schauffele Fleetwood but with six birdies in his opening twelve holes, he had closed in on the lead before his disappointing finish.

Given the quality of players ahead of him on the leaderboard, Day’s chances of claiming the Gold Medal would appear to be slim. Still, if he is to put together a strong finishing round, the chance of a medal of some colour is still possible.

“It’s a little frustrating,” said Day. “I can’t seem to get the ball in the fairway with the driver as much as I’d like to. I’ve been driving the ball pretty well up until the second part of the season, and it’s just been a little off.

“Funny enough, my iron play has been shocking this year and my iron play has been pretty good this week and I’ve matched that with some good putting.

“To be honest, I just need to play the closing holes a lot better than I have. You play those a little bit better and you’re right in the mix but still one more day to go.

When asked if playing the Olympics has taken on a greater meaning than he first imagined Day would say;

“Yes, by far, a lot more. Not only playing for your country and your teammates. The crowd has made it fantastic to be a part of it. Definitely feel honoured to be able to come here and represent my country. It’s been a fun week. The dinners, team dinners have been tremendous and we had a lot of fun.

“I was saying earlier that typically we are always constantly trying to win tournaments on the PGA TOUR. We look at the Money List and we look at what money we’d make. You don’t earn anything this week. You’re earning a medal, and I think that brings out something deep from whether it’s when you’re a junior golfer or amateur golfer that it means something more than just some money at the end of the day for us.

“It’s definitely opened my eyes to representing something bigger than myself. That’s been a complete honour to do that.

“Ever since I was an 18-year-old kid, I didn’t have a lot of money; it’s always been about winning tournaments and making a lot of money. This week is not about that. It’s more. It’s about trying to prove if you’re good enough to win a medal. There’s only a small list of people that have won a medal here, especially in golf.”

Ryan Fox improved 9 places with a third round of 68 to be tied for 23rd and the next best of the Australasians, Min Woo Lee continued his comeback from a horror start to be 29th and Daniel Hillier had his best round of the week (70) to be 53rd.

With Rahm and Schauffele tied at 14 under, Fleetwood at 13 under, and the likes of McIlroy, Scheffler and Matsuyama all within striking distance tomorrow’s final round in the race for Gold will be quite a shootout.

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Jason Day improves through 36 holes in Paris


Hideki Matsuyama – one of three leaders at the halfway stage – image PGA Tour IGF 

Jason Day added a second round of 3 under 68 at the Olympic Men’s competition at Le Golf National in Paris and at 5 under par through 36 holes he shares 13th place, six shots behind joint leaders Hideki Matsuyama, Tommy Fleetwood and defending champion Xander Schauffele.

Day’s only real blemish of the day came when he found the water at the par 3 16th but was able to salvage a bogey from the drop zone although his four birdies have opened the door for a strong weekend to have him in contention for a medal.

“It was much more focused. Actual left-to-right, I played nice today,” said Day. “The only downside to the game today is I missed one green and that was when I missed the green on 16. Hit it in the water.

“But I think overall, it would have been nice to be able to capitalise on the par 5s a little bit more. There’s only three of them, so just poor drives on 9 and 14. And if I can get that on the fairway, then at least give myself an opportunity to get up near the green, try and work a little bit there. But yeah, other than that, it was nice work today. I just have to push a little bit over the weekend.”

When asked if this week carries a different mindset given there are just three medals up for grabs Day responded;

“It really does. Because you’re trying to push, you know what I mean. You want to pick up a medal. I’m currently six back so we have some work to do over the weekend.”

Min Woo Lee bounced back from an opening round of 76 to record an eight birdie round of 65 to jump 24 places and into a share of 35th.

“Yeah, it was great,” said Lee. “Played really good. But yeah just got off to a really good start and that definitely helps. Especially at a course like this, if you start average, then it’s pretty hard to come back. So yeah, just didn’t give up, really. And that was kind of the motto after yesterday. Yesterday was tough but tough days of golf happen. Pat on the back for not giving up and playing good golf.”

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox recovered from an opening nine of 40 for a round of 73 to follow his impressive 67 yesterday although he has slipped 20 places to 30th.

Fox’s teammate Daniel Hillier is back in 59th place in the 60-man field after his second round of 73.

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Australians off early pace in Paris

Ryan Fox gets his Olympic campaign underway.- photo PGA of America

Jason Day has opened his Olympic campaign with a round of 70 on day one of the men’s competition at Le Golf National in Paris. He finds himself in a share of 21st place and six shots behind the brilliant round of 63 by Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.

Day moved to 4 under when he birdied the 16th but then made a mess of the 18th with a double bogey to fall from a share of 6th to 21st on the congested leaderboard.

It is the first appearance in the Olympics for Day after declining the opportunity in 2016 and then missing the qualifying criteria in 2021 and he found the experience very unique.

“I was just saying a little bit earlier that this is probably the most nervous I’ve been wearing a set of clothes that you look down and see the colours,” said the Ohio-based Queenslander. “The first couple holes caught me off-guard actually quite a lot. I was quite nervous standing over the first tee shot and then it took me a few holes to get over it.

“It’s amazing, we’re not playing for money this week obviously. We are playing for a medal and you’re here for kind of playing for free. But my point is that it feels totally different. This is the most I’ve felt nervous standing on a tee box wearing a set of clothes that I’m wearing for the first time.

“It’s a good feeling because it just shows that it means a lot to me, which is good. So I’m happy about it.”

“18 sucked a little bit. Two just uncommitted swings, the wedge shot and the tee shot. Tidy that up and get to work on the range this afternoon.”

When asked whether there will come a time when a Gold Medal is revered as much as a major, Day responded;

“Potentially. That takes time and history. Over time, we’re in our third Olympics in since the 1900s. I think at some point it will. Just because there’s only one of them, you know what I mean. Currently on the men’s side, there’s only one Gold Medal that you can win. It’s not like you can jump into swimming and if you’re good enough, you can jump into different races. Over time it will just get bigger and bigger.”

Ryan Fox was the best of the four Australasians in the field, the New Zealander round in 4 under 67 to be tied for 6th.

Fox moved to 5 under when he birdied the 14th but a bogey at the 16th saw him finish four off the pace of Hideki.

Australia’s other competitor Min Woo Lee began with a horror round of 76 and is sharing last place of the 60 competitors while New Zealand’s second competitor, Daniel Hillier also struggled with an opening round of 75.

Lee was very disappointed with his effort.

“It was pretty garbage but I was saying in the other interview, sometimes you’re going to go a little bit backwards to go forwards. Working on a couple things and there was a lot of good out there.

“But it’s just unfortunate as a player. You always want to play your best but sometimes the results don’t show that, especially at a course like this where it’s pretty tough and penalising. I felt like I was in all the penalties today.

“Didn’t drive it anywhere near as good I normally do. Normally I’m striping it lately. Hitting it pretty good off the tee but lots of water and lots of balls missing. Had to just kind of battle through that and yeah, it’s quite tough when you’re in thick hay most of the day.”

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Le Golf National awaits Olympic start

Le Golf National – file photo PGA of America

The 2024 Olympic Golf competition begins on Thursday, Australia’s men’s team comprises Jason Day and Min Woo Lee while Minjee Lee and Hannah Green will compete in next week’s women’s event.

The 72-hole events are being played at Le Golf National in Paris.

New Zealand has Ryan Fox and Daniel Hiller while for the women only Lydia Ko made the qualifying criteria.

Both Jason Day and Min Woo Lee are debutantes for Australia in the Olympics. Day finished 13th in his latest start at the Open Championship while Lee missed the cut at Royal Troon.

For Day he is excited about being able to represent Australia in this format for the first occasion having declined the opportunity in 2016 due to a scare re the Zika virus and the scheduling of the event and not having qualified in 2021.

“To be honest I wasn’t ever thinking about it,” said Day. “I know in 2016, looking back on it, I’ve said it before, where there was some regret, obviously, not going down. At the time I think I was like No. 1 or 2 in the world and I think I was like to a point where I was kind of burnt out, and the last thing on my mind was representing Australia in the Olympics.

“Looking back on it, I should just sucked it up and gone down and played. I think in that case it would have been a great experience for me to go down there and represent something that’s bigger than you, you know what I mean.

“And then obviously when it came to Tokyo — Japan is one of my favourite countries to go visit. I had some injuries and stuff, and obviously Cam and Marc were ranked higher than me.

“I just felt that if I could just play half-decent at some point, I would be able to get back on the team. It would be nice to be able to get into the Olympics in L.A. and then obviously hopefully get in the Olympics in Brisbane. But that’s a long time from now.”

Min Woo Lee is delighted with the opportunity and also the Le Golf National layout.

“Yeah, unbelievable honour. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a team event, and obviously representing Australia in the Olympics, it’s a massive honour, and it’s a massive deal.

“So I’m very excited to be here and Le Golf National is looking very, very nice. It’s good and challenging in its ways. The rough is thick. So we’ll go out there and see the front nine today, but yesterday was really good.”

Minjee Lee will play her third Olympics having finished 7th in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and 29th in Tokyo while Hannah Green was 5th in her only appearance in Tokyo.

For New Zealand Fox is playing his third Olympic competition having finished 39th in Rio and 42nd in Tokyo, while Hillier gets his first opportunity.

Ko has finished runner-up and 3rd in her two appearances.

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Richard Green runner-up to K.J. Choi at Senior Open


K.J. Choi – image Getty Images

Australia’s Richard Green has finished runner-up to South Korea’s K.J. Choi at the Senior Open Championship at Carnoustie, two late birdies moving him clear of England’s Paul Broadhurst who finished alone in 3rd position.

Green began the final round one behind Choi but by the turn had moved ahead as Choi battled to an opening nine of 38. The Korean then, however, played the next five holes in 5 under including an eagle at the 14th to race four shots clear during a period when Green mixed bogeys with birdies.

Green would though play the demanding finishing stretch at Carnoustie with birdies at the 16th and 18th to claim second place.

Green adds another US$300,000 to his earnings for 2024, a season in which he has finished third or better at a senior major, including a runner-up finish at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.

Green moves to 4th on this year’s Charles Schwab money list with earnings of US$1.317,000.

Steve Alker was the next best of the Australasian contingent when he finished in a share of 5th place.

For Choi the victory was a first for Korea and just the second by an Asian golfer in the now 37 year history of the event.

“It’s unbelievable, today’s game,” said Choi. “I prayed all week. Either way, I started very nervous and some speed was off, which was the difference, and I made three bogeys after six. I kept my attention and prayed. I felt more comfortable in the swing.

“I made a bad start but then seven and eight was better and then made birdie on nine, which made me feel better.

“The back-to-back birdies on nine and ten gave me real momentum today.

“This event is historical in Korea, first-time champion at The Senior Open. Very proud this week.”

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Hannah Green and Lydia Ko contending in Canada


Hannah Green – file photo – image Getty Images / LPGA

Hannah Green is just one shot from the lead at the CPKC Canadian Women’s Open in Calgary, her second round of 70 leaving her behind only Lauren Coughlin in her final event before heading for Paris and another tilt at an Olympic medal.

Green finished 4th in this event last year at this venue so clearly has a comfort zone over the Earl Gray Golf Club layout.

Green who has already won twice in 2024 and is currently 3rd in the Race to the Globe standings, opened with three early birdies to take the lead but eventually ended with a 2 under 70 including a bogey at her last hole which cost her a share of the 36 hole lead.

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, a three-time winner of this event earlier in her career, is also well placed in a share of 4th and three from the lead.

“Yeah, it was another solid day on the greens,” said Green when describing her round to the media. “Managed to hit two more fairways today so that was nice; gave myself some good opportunities for birdies.

“But, it was tough again out there. There was some pretty strong wind gusts, especially our last few holes, so committing to the shot you were envisioning was kind of difficult.

“Yeah, I’m kind of glad that I’m finished for Friday and I can go relax now.”

Green is looking ahead to her involvement in the Olympics with great anticipation.

“Yeah, no, I mean, ever since I officially qualified at KPMG it’s been really nice to know what’s ahead in the schedule. I guess most of us are pretty much treating it as our sixth major championship this year.

“I am getting in on the Saturday. We have a Wednesday start for the women, so I’m not getting in super early because I didn’t want to over-prepare and feel mentally that I’m already a bit drained throughout the week.

“So, yeah, getting in Saturday. Going to watch the men over the weekend and then obviously get ready. But I have not been to the Golf National before. I didn’t go there before Evian to go and play the course. I’ve seen a little bit on TV. I probably will try and watch some replays and see as much stuff as I can online.

“Just don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. There are 60 women and we are all trying to get a podium finish I would say, not only just a gold medal. A Top 3 would be amazing for ourselves and countries.

“It’s just fortunately just another golf tournament. We still have the Scottish Open, British Open, so many great events coming up.”

Ko needs just one more win to join the LPGA’s Hall of Fame but is not allowing the anticipation get to her.

“I feel like it’s been a lot easier,” said Ko. “Some people have reached out and are like, oh, it’s going to happen. You’re so close. I was like oh, I’m not as stressed as I think people are thinking.

“I think, like I said after winning Hilton Grand Vacations, being one point away is so much easier than being two. I know when you’re two points away, oh, I still have to have two wins.

“I feel like if I keep moving in the right direction and doing the right things, that one point, whether it’s — however, there are so many different ways to get it done, will happen.

“I feel like if it’s honestly meant to be for me to be in the Hall of Fame and be a Hall of Famer, it’s probably going to happen.

“So I’m just trying to play the best golf I can. In the past couple months I haven’t played the best golf, so it’s not like I’m playing with a lot of expectation trying to win I guess because I haven’t been in contention as much.

“I do feel like my game has improved a lot in the past couple months. Obviously it’s a really good time for it to happen, at tournament that means a lot to me with the Olympics and British Open and all that coming up.

“I’m playing alongside the best female golfers week in, week out. We all know it’s not easy to win. Sometimes luck also needs to go your way. So I’m hoping for a little bit of this, a little bit of that, and kind of give myself good chances.”

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Richard Green nicely poised at Carnoustie

Richard Green – file photo PGA of America

Australian Richard Green is nicely poised as the Senior Open Championship enters the weekend at Carnoustie.

The 53-year-old Victorian is just three from the lead held by South Korea’s K.J. Choi and one behind the second placed Stephen Ames, a second round of 72 over the demanding Carnoustie layout opening the opportunity for a breakthrough win on the PGA Tour Champions to be a major also.

Both Choi and Ames are former Players Championship winners.

“I felt the wind was up a bit more today, and I didn’t quite hit the ball as well,” said Green So you know, when you’re a little bit out of position, you find it a little bit difficult and challenging. But my ability to hang in there was good today, and got a couple of nice birdies on the way in and an eagle on 12, which got me back on track, really.”

Green has been twice runner-up and twice 3rd in his relatively short career on the PGA Tour Champions and shapes as a genuine threat to the field over the final 36 holes.

New Zealand’s Steve Alker is the next best of the Australasians, three behind Green and six from the lead and in a share of 11th after his second round of 73.

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36 hole leader, K.J. Choi, plays his 2nd to the 18th today – image Getty Images

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New Zealanders eliminated at US Junior Amateur


Josh Bai during his opening round match – image USGA

The two New Zealanders who qualified for the match play phase of the US Junior Amateur Championship, including last year’s runner-up, Josh Bai, have been eliminated in the early rounds of the event being held at Oakland Hills in Michigan.

Napier’s Zack Swanwick lost his opening-round match against Californian Billy Davis 4&3.

After being 2 up early, then still 1 up through ten holes Swanwick lost the next five holes to lose at the 15th.

Auckland’s Bai made it through the opening round against American Brayden Millar after never being behind in the encounter, but, in his round of 32 match against American CJ Wichenbaugh, he fought back to square the match at the 8th after being 3 down early only to lose at the 16th in what was a close fought match.

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New Zealanders Bai and Swanwick advance at US Junior Am

The demanding Oakland Hills – venue for the event – image USGA

New Zealanders Joshua Bai and Zack Swanwick have graduated to the matchplay phase of the US Junior Amateur Championship at the Oakland Hills Country Club in Michigan, Bai as the 4th qualifier and Swanwick in 45th place of the 64 who made it through 36 holes of strokeplay from an original field of nearly 300.

18-year-old Bai from Auckland finished runner-up in this event last year, losing 2 down in the final but a best of the day round of 65 on day two of the 36 strokeplay competition has left him amongst the leading players entering match play tomorrow.

Napier’s Swanwick, who will attend the University of Florida, was the leading amateur at this year’s New Zealand Open when finishing 10th in the PGA Tour of Australasia event.

The 18 year old is the Australian and New Zealand Junior Champion and at last year’s Australian Open recorded an opening round of 67 before missing the cut.

Australia had just Cody Brenner in the field and he missed the cut by many.

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Immaculate display earns Schauffele’s second major


Xander Schauffele with the iconic trophy – image R&A via Getty Images

In a simply stunning display of golf of the highest quality in the most demanding of conditions, Xander Schauffele has produced a final round of 65 at Royal Troon to win the 152nd Open Championship by two shots over Justin Rose and Billy Horschel and claim his second major title in two months.

Schauffele began the final round one behind Horschel but, by the turn, he found himself trailing the then leader Thriston Lawrence of South Africa by one before Lawrence, playing two groups behind, birdied the 9th for an outward nine of 32 to lead by one over Rose and by two over Schauffele.

Schauffele would then, however, birdie the 11th, 13th, 14th and 16th to grab a three-shot lead over his playing partner Rose who would then birdie the final hole to finish two behind and tied with Horschel who birdied his final three holes to share second place.

For Schauffele it was his 17th start in 2024 in which he has now won two major titles and finished inside the top ten on ten other occasions, a remarkable run of not only golf of the highest quality but of great consistency.

Schauffele will move to number two in the world behind Scheffler.

What were his initial thoughts?

“It’s an honour. I’ve always dreamt of doing it. That walk up 18 truly is the coolest with the yellow leaderboards and the fans and the standing ovation. It really is one of the coolest feelings I’ve ever had in my life. I got chills walking down and quickly had to zap myself back into focus because the tournament wasn’t over yet.”

“I’ve been sort of running around a bit since that final putt has been holed. I was in the waiting room for maybe 10 minutes. I was just informed, just on the tip here, dating back to the first Open at Prestwick there, if you start looking at it, which I will definitely have time to tonight, I think it will all really sink in and settle in.

Right now I’m just — I feel very — you know, pretty speechless. If I sat in a room by myself with this, I would just stare at it and gaze and really try to take it all in.”

When asked as to how difficult it was to win a second major Schaffele responded;

“It was very difficult. I think winning the first one helped me a lot today on the back nine. I had some feeling of calmness come through. It was very helpful on what has been one of the hardest back nines I’ve ever played in a tournament.

“I mean, it’s a dream come true to win two majors in one year. It took me forever just to win one, and to have two now is something else.”

Rose and Horschel tied for the runner-up position, Rose equalling his previous best when runner-up in 2018 while, for Horschel, he bettered his previous best of 21st at St Andrews two years ago.

Thriston Lawrence will be disappointed not to have taken greater advantage of his 63 hole lead but it was nonetheless a magnificent effort to finish alone in 4th place.

Amongst the Australasians Adam Scott did best when he tied for 10th but after two birdies in his first two holes today he might have felt something considerably better was on the cards.

“Like it was on last week and it was on again this week early,” said Scott. “By the 10th it was — after the 10th it was kind of over. You know, in the end I was too far back.

“Yesterday gave me a glimmer of hope, but it would have had to be a super-hot front nine. But no one really had it except maybe Xander. I don’t know how his card looks. Maybe he’s having a super-hot back nine, too. No one really held him back.

“It was good solid golf. I made a bad swing on 10 and paid the price, made a mess of that. It’s hard to really sum up. I played fairly well this week. Didn’t do well in the toughest conditions. That’s how it goes.”

Scott was asked how his recent form bodes for next year’s majors.

“In nine months we can check in and see where Adam is at in his head. I’m just pleased. I’ve been moving a lot of stuff around this year behind the scenes in my head, in my golf bag, and I feel like I’ve seven months in, settled — finally feel like I can settle a little bit and work a plan, even though there’s a month left of the season.

“I’ll try and make the most of that at least now, and then there’s still the Presidents Cup to look forward to, and hopefully I think I’m in a good spot to play my way on to that team now. That’s kind of the goal through the FedExCup upcoming.”

Jason Day jumped 20 places with a round of 68 to tie for 13th while New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier produced a fine week when he tied for 19th in the only cut he has made in now three starts in the event.

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