Jason Day moves into contention on demanding day at Torrey Pines
Jason Day – file photo – now in contention after a round of 69 in tough conditions – image PGA of Australia
After a disappointing opening round of 74 over the South Course in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, Jason Day began round two some eleven shots from the lead set by Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg. However, by the time he walked from the course on day two, he was within just five of the halfway lead.
Several players have yet to finish their rounds due to weather delays and darkness preventing play on day two, but this will have little impact on the current leaders.
Day’s 3 under round of 69 over the admittedly easier North Course was made more impressive by the fact that round was completed in the most demanding of conditions so much so that late in the afternoon play was suspended due to the high winds sweeping across the clifftop layouts high above the Pacific Ocean.
Day has a good record at Torrey Pijes winning two Farmers Insurance Opens and a Junior World Championship and given the form he displayed at last week’s American Express his opening round of 74 had him fighting to make the cut all day.
As the winds increased throughout the afternoon, however, the potential cut score slipped from 1 under to 1 over. When Day birdied two of his final three holes he was not only comfortably inside the required score, he had improved from outside the top 100 to a share of 28th and the leaders were now, all of a sudden, in sight.
Day’s round was one of only three in the 70s in gusting winds, which reached around 40 m.ph on occasions. At one stage, play was halted for nearly 90 minutes due to balls oscillating on the greens.
Aaron Baddeley was unable to produce the form he showed in round one and followed up his opening 67 with a round of 77 but it was about average over the South Course on day two and at even par he is just six shots from the lead.
