(Washington) Australian Jason Day, seeking his first North American (PGA) Tour title in four years, took the lead in the Wells Fargo Championship on Thursday after Day 1, returning a 63, seven strokes under par.
Posted at 9:25 a.m.
34-year-old Jason Day birdied eight for a single bogey to take the lead one stroke ahead of American Joel Dahmen at the Potomac circuit near Washington.
Behind these two golfers, with cards of 65, or five strokes under par, is a group of five men: English beginners Aaron Rai and Callum Tarren, Americans Denny McCarthy and Matthew Wolff and Frenchman Paul Barjon.
2015 PGA Championship winner Jason Day aims for 12and title on the PGA Tour, which would be his first since 2018 and his victory in the Wells Fargo Championship.
“It’s really encouraging,” commented the Australian, who has long suffered from back pain. “Usually when I play well people ask me how my back is, but it’s not something you want to talk about all the time.”
“So I worked hard, I was scrupulous and disciplined in my approach to staying healthy. I have little issues from time to time, but — knock on wood — I feel great most of the time,” he explained.
Defending champion and four-time Major winner Rory McIlroy returned a 67, having made seven birdies, but also 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 too long for a ball. “I can’t wait to leave this circuit. Only a few more weeks and I won’t have to deal with you anymore, “he said, seeming to accredit the idea that he could soon leave the American PGA Tour to join the LIV Golf International Series, a series of eight richly endowed tournaments, financed by Saudi Arabia.
The series will begin June 9-11 in London at Centurion Golf Club, the same week as the PGA Tour-counting Canada Open and therefore one week before the US Open (June 16-19) in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Ranking after 1er turn (by 70)
1. Jason Day (AUS) -7
2. Joel Dahmen (USA) -6
3. Paul Barjon (FRA) -5
Denny McCarthy (USA) -5
Aaron Rai (ENG) -5
Callum Tarren (ENG)-5
Matthew Wolff (USA) -5
8. Wesley Bryan (USA) -4
Stewart Cink (USA) -4
Rickie Fowler (USA) -4
James Hahn (USA) -4
Mackenzie Hughes (CAN) -4
Lee Kyung-Hoon (KOR) -4
Adam Svensson (CAN) -4
Nick Watney (USA)-4
Dylan Wu (USA) -4
17. Austin Cook (USA) -3
Cameron Davis (AUS)-3
Sergio Garcia (ESP) -3
Jim Herman (USA) -3
Harry Higgs (USA) -3
Max Homa (USA) -3
Stephan Jäger (GER) -3
Kim Si Woo (KOR)-3
Kurt Kitayama (USA) -3
Jim Knous (USA) -3
Ben Kohles (USA) -3
Matt Kuchar (USA) -3
Peter Malnati (USA) -3
Rory McIlroy (NIR)-3
Matthew NeSmith (USA) -3
Turk Pettit (USA) -3
Scott Piercy (USA) -3
Rory Sabbatini (SVK)-3
Chase Seiffert (USA)-3
Nick Taylor (CAN) -3
Matt Wallace (ENG)-3