Shocking Jason Day MELTDOWN reminiscent of the Greg Norman implosion at the Masters 36 years ago
Jason Day’s Masters hopes appear to have sunk in Rae’s Creek in a deflating collapse in the second round of Augusta National – nearly four decades after Greg Norman’s infamous golfing collapse.
Day dropped four shots in his last four holes in Friday’s second round after dousing his ball in the drink on the famous par-5 15th and taking a dreaded double bogey seven to finish seven strokes behind American clubhouse leader Brooks Koepka. let it slide.
After finding the trees near the tee, Day lay down in front of the water, leaving onlookers gaping as he made his approach straight in.
“I had 82 yards, I’m trying to hit 30 yards off a 60 on a pretty tough incline, trying to hit it pretty clean to get some spin on it,” he thought ruefully.
“It’s really hard to get much away from a 60 (degree) wedge and you’re trying to elevate it as well.
‘Unfortunately it wasn’t the first one I hit today. Looking back, it would have been nice to have a good ride there so I could hit the green in half.
“But then you are on the left and you have to swerve to the right.”
A double bogey in the second round of the Masters has Aussie Jason Day seven shots off leader Brooks Koepka
It was a day to forget for Day with two bogeys and the double bogey, but he managed to recover and finish the day on a level playing field
The mistake caused two unusual three-putt bogeys on the 16th and 18th holes as Day finished his round five-under after signing for an even-par 72 coaster.
From one stroke behind Koepka at one point, Day suddenly found himself seven behind the American and needed a weekend wonder to contend for the green jacket on Sunday’s stretch.
Day also made a mess of the par-5 eighth, scoring a bogey after hitting the green twice.
His two fluffed chip shots actually set up a six-stroke swing with Koepka making an eagle on No. 8 and birdie on 15 as Day played the holes in three over.
“Obviously going from nine to five (below) was a bit of a kick in the gut,” said the shattered star.
“Pretty close to where Brooks went into the weekend, you never know how it goes… yeah, it’s disappointing because you come in with good momentum at 15, even though I missed a short at 14.
”
Australia’s former world No. 1 had flown.
After starting the day with five under, he quickly shot to seven under with consecutive birdies at two and three.
Even after his sloppy bogey on the eighth, Day bounced right back with a nice birdie on nine before a Larry Mize-esque chip-in birdie on the eleventh propelled him to eight under and solo second behind Koepka.
It was a second-round roller coaster for Day, balancing his uncharacteristically bad holes with consecutive birdies on holes two and three
The meltdown reminded Greg Norman nearly 40 years ago, a round Aussie golf fans will never forget
With Mize playing the final round of his 40th and final Masters on Friday, the chip-in from nearly the same position the Augusta native went out in a playoff 36 years ago to break Greg Norman’s heart made it feel like that fate was on Day’s side.
But instead of burying the demons of one of Australia’s most brutal sporting moments, the ghosts of Norman returned to haunt Day in a Shark-esque meltdown.
Day was still safe in the clubhouse and tied for sixth position as Augusta was hit by severe weather as the afternoon’s starters stalled.
But he made a dejected figure as he tried to explain away his gut-wrenching finish.
“I just have to give myself time. I’m very annoyed with myself,” he said.
“I’m sitting here answering questions, and that can be difficult because it’s in the heat of the moment and I’m trying to control myself.”
Koepka backed up his first round of 65 with a 67 to take the lead at 12 under, with American amateur Sam Bennett his unlikely closest pursuer in the clubhouse, four shots down on consecutive 68s.
Adam Scott and Cameron Smith both finished the second round with a tie, but only managed to advance to the 10th and 8th holes respectively.
During his play on the eighth hole, Smith executed one of the remarkable strokes of the day. After his opening ride he found himself in the bunker.
Nevertheless, the LIV Golf sensation forcefully hit the ball out of the bunker and landed on the grass just off the green. The ball then gradually rolled onto the green.