Jason Day high-fives the Fanatics after yesterday's emotion-fuelled round.
JASON Day has used an emotional meeting with his mother - and a "heart attack in a box" - to spur himself and Australia to the brink of World Cup glory.
Day met his mother, Dening, for breakfast - the first time they've been face to face since eight of their family perished in last week's killer Philippines typhoon - before firing a near flawless five-under-par 66 to take a one-shot lead into the final round.His heroics also propelled he and fellow Queenslander Adam Scott into a one-shot lead in the teams event lead at Royal Melbourne.Day, 26, desperate for his maiden win on home soil as a professional, said it had been an "incredibly moving" moment to see Dening, whose own mother was among those lost in Typhoon Haiyan."It was only brief, but special … so good to see her," he said."She makes a special chicken. It's salty. We call it salty chicken. It's pretty much a heart attack in a box."If I don't show up for the round, you know where I am," he joked. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar. Day hasn't been a prolific winner and it frustrates him no end.But what he has done repeatedly throughout his young career is perform well on tough courses and the big stage.
Jason Day plays his second shot at the 15th hole.
And it won't get much bigger for Day in Australia than on Royal Melbourne today.The world No. 16 has a happy knack of playing well in tough conditions and famous courses set up to test the world's best."I just like playing difficult golf courses," he said."Easier (ones) I feel like it's more of a `putt-athon' and anyone can get around an easy golf course."That's why I find I play better at difficult golf courses because you really have to grind it out."And that's exactly what has taken Day to the top this week, on the verge of what would be just his third professional win despite an incredible six top-10 finishes in the past 13 major championships.
Jason Day knows it won’t get much bigger in Australia for him than on Royal Melbourne today.
"I feel like I should be winning every week and when you hold that expectation up, you sometimes try a little bit too hard," said Day, who has just four bogeys despite incredibly trying conditions that have left just 16 players under par."That just plays you out of golf tournaments … so I have learnt to come in neutral - not really think about winning, or who is coming from behind … just gather all the information that I can possibly gather on every single shot and commit to it."But to win my first (tournament in Australia) would be amazing."To be at Royal Melbourne with the calibre of player here this week, how tough the course has been and in such a big, big tournament … I would definitely welcome it with open arms."
Jason Day and Ricardo Santos line up their putts on the fifth yesterday.
Day cashed in early in his third round with two opening birdies, then tamed the back nine with the wind up to come home in 33 and sail past overnight leader Thomas Bjorn, who could only muster an even-par 71.The Queenslander's only blemish came on the short par-three fifth when he blocked his tee shot right and scrambled a bogey."Other than that I hit the ball wonderful today and stayed very patient with the greens."
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