Houston Open: Jason Day in line to earn first win in over two years
At the conclusion of Saturday’s third round at the Houston Open, Jason Day finds himself in an unfamiliar position. Near the top of the leaderboard with a shot at the win.
You’re likely thinking the same thing that I would be if I saw this headline. “hold on, Jason Day… why would he be unfamiliar with winning?” That’s because, if he wins the Houston Open, it would be his first win since May of 2018, when he won the Wells Fargo Championship.
He hasn’t even really come close since, with just a T-4 and a couple of fifth-place finishes over the last two and a half years.
After a bogey at the second hole, Jason Day was at -4 for the tournament, with a lot of work to do in order to get to the top of the leaderboard. He would get that shot back right away at the third hole, birdieing the par-5 hole with an easy four-footer, and the run was on.
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You knew it was going to be a good day for Day (No, not trying to be punny. I’ve heard them all already with the last name of O’Day), at the par-4 5th hole. Facing a 33-footer, he would bang it home for his second birdie of the day, with many more to come.
A nice chip at the 8th and he would follow it up by making the nine-foot putt to get to -7 on the day. He was climbing the leaderboard fast, and a strong back nine would get him there.
He would stick it at the par-4 12th, from 165 yards out to just five feet, and he would be at -8. Then, his fifth birdie of the day would come on the par-5 16th hole. He had a chance for eagle, although not many would expect him to make it from 64 feet. He would put it to a respectable six feet, and get to -9.
On the 18th, he would find himself in a position to sit atop the leaderboard by himself. Crushing it down the middle of the fairway, a 330-yard bomb would put him in a great position. Only hitting his approach to 20 feet, he would see the opportunity for -10 on the day. Instead, words no golfer wants to hear is what would happen.
Three-putt.
Jason Day would blast the first putt past, and miss the comebacker, finally making bogey. This would put Sam Burns on his on atop the leaderboard. Burns got there late, birdieing the 13th, 14th, and 16th holes to finish -2 on the day, and one shot ahead of Day at -9.
Day and Burns will be playing with Carlos Ortiz, who was actually in Day’s group on Saturday. Ortiz is in the same spot as Day, one shot back of Burns at -8. Luckily, we don’t have to worry about darkness anymore, and there will be no more Charl Schwartzel situations.
However, there is danger lurking for all of them. Dustin Johnson is at -6, just a few shots back after his error-free -4 in Saturday’s round. It’s a situation that would put a bit of fear into most playing on Sunday. The Number One golfer in the world, ready to fire on all cylinders. Not just to win a tournament, but to show the world he is ready for the Masters.
Next. Houston Open: Brooks Koepka building momentum ahead of Masters. dark
DJ will tee off with Sepp Straka and either Aaron Wise or Dawie van der Walt in the second to last group. Check back tomorrow to see who can win the Houston Open.