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SPORTS A19
Saturday 19 March 2016
Day builds 2-shot lead at Bay Hill; McIlroy 11 shots behind
DOUG FERGUSON objective was to take care playing well, I’m not sure now, 13 under, I thought three months off at the
AP Golf Writer of the par 5s and keep a that’s quite going to be that was going to have a end of 2015. He has only
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Ja- clean card, and he did enough that far behind Ja- great chance at the end of Bay Hill and the Dell Match
son Day felt like he was both. Rose is now 9 under son. At the same time I can the week,” McIlroy said. “I Play next week before the
bearing down on each on the eight par 5s he has get confidence from that thought something around Masters, and he thought it
12 under was going to be would be helpful to at least
right there. For him to do feel the pressure of conten-
that after two days is pretty tion before Augusta Na-
spectacular. I think every- tional.
one has got their work cut Stenson could be the guy
out to try and catch him.” to provide it.
The timing is good for Day, He thought he had Bay Hill
who had a sluggish start won last year until bogeys
to the year after taking late in his round.
Jason Day, of Australia, watches his putt on the 13th green during the second round of the Arnold
Palmer Invitational golf tournament in Orlando, Fla., Friday, March 18, 2016.
Associated Press
shot. He made it look much played this week. And he and bring it on to the next
easier Friday in the Arnold was bogey-free on Friday. week and ultimately into
Palmer Invitational. “Yesterday was a colorful the Masters.”
Day made a pair of long scorecard,” Rose said of Stanford junior Maverick
birdie putts and otherwise an opening round that in- McNealy, chosen to play
put on a clinic at Bay Hill for cluded two eagles and a by his colleagues at the
a 7-under 65 that gave him double bogey. “Today, a Palmer Cup, had a 71 and
a two-shot lead over Hen- little bit more solid.” was at 4-under 140. It’s the
rik Stenson going into the Day was driving it long and second straight week that
weekend. straight, hitting his irons well an amateur has made the
“It was great,” he said. “I and making big putts. It’s a cut; Georgia senior Lee
felt like I couldn’t do any- great combination for any- McCoy finished fourth last
thing wrong out there.” one, particularly a player week in the Valspar Cham-
Day was at 13-under 131 who reached No. 1 in the pionship.
and was five shots ahead world last year by winning U.S. Amateur champion
of Jamie Lovemark (68) four out of six tournaments, Bryson DeChambeau shot
when he finished. including his first major. another 72 and made the
Stenson faced a daunting Rory McIlroy was able to cut on the number at even-
task — eight shots behind watch the whole show. par 144.
when he teed off in the af- McIlroy, who opened with a Day, however, appeared
ternoon — and he shot 31 75, was in the group behind to be in his own world on
on the back nine for a 66 Day and saw the Australian the immaculate Bay Hill
to stay in the game. Jus- start to pull away from the course.
tin Rose also had a 66 and field. McIlroy had his own is- A pair of two-putt birdies
was three shots behind. sues on Friday, starting with on the par 5s on the back
“It’s motivating,” Stenson a chance to play for two nine helped him extend
said of the deficit he faced. more days. He handled his lead, and he added a
“You can’t let it be frustrat- that with ease, making four 35-foot birdie putt on the
ing that you’re eight shots birdies on the back nine to 17th. It was after Day had
back. He played great, get above the cut line and to scramble for par on the
and you’ve just got to go posting a 67. par-5 fourth hole, making
and do the same, and I But he was all but ready to a 10-foot putt, that he took
managed to do that.” concede that the tourna- off. He rolled in a 10-foot
Day, Stenson and Rose will ment was out of his reach. birdie on the next hole, got
play together Saturday be- “I was looking at Jason in up-and-down from a bun-
cause tee times have been front of me and I was think- ker for birdie on the par-5
moved forward to avoid ing if I could maybe get sixth and finished his round
the threat of storms. within six going into the with a 35-foot birdie on the
Rose wasn’t bothered to weekend,” McIlroy said. ninth hole.
see Day so far ahead. His “And now it’s 11. ... Even “The total that he’s on
