Australia’s Jason Day, seeking his first North American Tour (PGA) title in four years, took the lead in the Wells Fargo Championship on Thursday.
In search of a first North American Tour (PGA) title in four years, Australia’s Jason Day took the lead in the Wells Fargo Championship on Thursday after the first day, returning a card of 63, seven shots under par.
The 34-year-old Jason Day made eight birdies for a single bogey to take the lead in the standings one shot ahead of American Joel Dahmen on the Potomac circuit near Washington.
Behind these two golfers, with cards of 65, or five shots under par, is a group of five men: English debutants Aaron Rai and Callum Tarren, Americans Denny McCarthy and Matthew Wolff, and Frenchman Paul Barjon.
Winner of the PGA Championship in 2015, Jason Day is aiming for a 12th title on the PGA Tour, which would be his first since 2018 and his victory in the Wells Fargo Championship.
It’s encouraging,” said the Australian, who has long suffered back pain. “Usually, when I play well, people ask me how my back is doing, but it’s not something you want to talk about all the time.”
“So I worked a lot; I was scrupulous and disciplined in my approach to staying healthy. I have small problems from time to time, but I touch wood. I feel very good most of the time,” he explained.
Defending champion and four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy returned a card of 67 after making seven birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey.
Sergio Garcia also finished the first round with a card of 67, thanks in particular to an eagle made at hole N.15 by returning a shot from nearly 150 m away.
But the Spaniard was especially noticed by getting annoyed after taking a one-shot penalty for looking for a ball for too long.
“I can’t wait to leave this circuit. Only a few weeks left, and I won’t have to deal with you anymore,” he said, seeming to lend credence to the idea that he could soon leave the U.S. PGA Tour to join the LIV Golf International Series, a series of eight richly endowed tournaments funded by the the Saudi Arabia.
The series will begin June 9-11 in London at Centurion Golf Club, the same week as the PGA Tour Canada Open and a week before the US Open (June 16-19) in Brookline, Massachusetts.
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