Jason Day drives first green one day after injuring back
— -- AUSTIN, Texas -- Despite a lower back issue that caused him to leave the course in pain a day earlier, Jason Day began play Thursday afternoon at the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship against Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee.
Day, 28, seemed fine when warming up on the driving range, but appeared careful when hitting his driver and fairway woods and was rubbing his lower back as he was being announced on the first tee.
Nonetheless, he drove the par-4 first green, hitting a 372-yard (downwind) tee shot to set up a 12-foot eagle putt -- which he made.
Coming off a victory on Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Day, 28, was cruising to a 3 and 2 victory over Graeme McDowell on Wednesday when trouble started on the 15th hole. He hit a poor drive there, and then grabbed his back after hitting his tee shot at the 16th in a fairway bunker.
Because he led by three holes with three to play, Day was able to close out McDowell by making a par on the hole, although he went down to his knee while watching McDowell attempt to extend the match.
In brief remarks prior to getting treatment, Day described it as "searing'' pain on both sides of his lower back. But no further information was given on his condition after he left the course or before he teed off Thursday.
Jaidee won his match against Paul Casey on Wednesday, meaning both players entered the second round of a three-day round-robin format with 1-0 records. The winner will be in a strong position to advance to the weekend's 16-player knockout stage.
Day won this tournament two years ago and has six PGA Tour victories in the past 14 months. He is considered a strong contender at the Masters in two weeks.
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