Record-equalling Day: I felt I could hole everything
Jason Day revelled in matching the course record at The Players Championship, though the world number one was quick to turn his attention to round two.
Day was flawless as he opened the tournament with a bogey-free nine-under-par 63 at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday.
The Australian – in control throughout – recorded nine birdies en route to a two-stroke lead as he etched his name in history in Ponte Vedra Beach.
“I felt like I could hole everything,” Day told reporters afterwards.
“[I’m] very pleased with how I played today. Tee to greens was pretty decent, was actually really good, and then once I got on the greens.”
Day’s opening-round performance was in stark contrast to his last competitive round at The Players Championship, having posted an 81 as he missed the cut in 2015.
Asked about the 18-shot difference and whether he believed he could register such a low score, Day said: “I knew that I could. The way I was feeling, the way I was playing, I knew that I could shoot a good score.
“Especially with how the greens were so receptive today. They were really nice, holding on a lot of shots. That’s what made it a little bit easier coming out of the rough. You’re coming out with a flier and these firm greens, there’s no way you can hold the greens, and then you’re chipping a lot more and trying to save par, and that makes it a little bit more difficult.
“But yeah, it’s round one. I’ve got to try and focus on playing a solid round two and then after that round three and round four and just trying to keep pushing forward.
“That’s my main goal right now is try to get as much under par as I can.”
Day, who tied the record set by Martin Kaymer (2014), Robert Castro (2013), Greg Norman (1994) and Fred Couples (1992), added: “I would have loved to shoot 10-under and be the only guy to hold that record, but I’m in pretty good company with the guys that have shot that, especially with Greg Norman and the way he played shooting 63 and three straight 67s.
“If I can keep that up, that would be great to be able to shoot three 67s over the next three days, but right now I’ve just got to try and focus on trying to win this tournament and trying to play a good round two.”
