The Jason Day that dominated late in 2015 showed up at Bay Hill Thursday and took the first round lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Day overcame a double-bogey at the ninth hole with a back nine 31 that added up to a 66 and a one-shot lead over the world’s hottest player — Adam Scott.
Day was simply flawless for most of his round except for his tee shot at the par four ninth that went out-of-bounds. “That was the only one that was kind of weird. That swing kinda came out of the blue,” Day recalled. He more than made up for it over his final nine holes where he shot 31, including an eagle at the par five 16th. “I hit a six-iron 190, that was the distance it needed to carry and I ended up with a 10-footer,” Day said afterward. That got him to six-under and he held it together with great scrambling pars at 17 and 18.
“If you’re driving it well you can give yourself opportunities,” Day pointed out. “I drove it well and you have to capitalize on the par fives.” Day was five-under on the four par fives and a hot putter didn’t hurt either. He had just 21 putts.
Scott played early, Day played late and Scott put up a 67 in the morning to keep rolling after winning two events in a row. I have some confidence going,” Scott said. “I chipped and putted well. I didn’t hit it my best. The confidence and calmness I’m taking to the course shows. My short game is at a good level.”
Scott had plenty of company at five-under. Henrik Stenson, who finished runner up last year, was in with him. “I hit it the best I have all year on Wednesday,” Stenson said. “This is a home game for me, I guess there’s something to sleeping in your own bed,” said Stenson, who lives 30 minutes away at Lake Nona.
Troy Merritt, Brendan Steele and Marc Leishman were also in at 67.
There were another 10 players in at 4-under as the superb condition of the course helped the scoring. “This is the best condition it has ever been in,” said host Arnold Palmer.
Defending champion Matt Every opened with 71.
