Day takes parting shot as Muirfield struggles continue

Jason Day took a parting shot at Muirfield Village as another year at the Memorial Tournament ended in disappointment. 

Just about three weeks removed from ending a nearly five-year winless drought at this year’s AT&T Byron Nelson, Jason Day faltered once again at the Memorial Tournament, as has so often been the case throughout his illustrious career.

Somewhat surprisingly, the local Ohio resident has never found much success at Jack’s event having only recorded one top 10 finish at Muirfield Village Golf Club in thirteen appearances prior to this year’s edition.

The 2015 PGA Champion had missed the cut in four of those thirteen starts at the Memorial coming into this week and following an opening round of 76 on Thursday, Day had his work cut out for him if we was going to avoid a fifth MC at Muirfield.

Following three pars across the opening three holes of his second round on Friday, the Australian doubled the Par 3, 4th hole, at Muirfield Village and certainly appeared to be heading for an early exit at the Memorial Tournament once again.

But Jason responded as the great ones are apt to do, birdieing the 7th and later making a fantastic eagle on the Par 5, 11th when Jason Day drained a 43-footer for the big bird.

He then moved himself to the right side of the cutline after adding another birdie on the second Par 5 on Muirfield’s back nine.

Jason Day has played some stellar golf in 2023 as the former world number one entered this week having finished top 10 or better in six of his eleven starts this year, and after a terrific run over the latter part of his round on Friday, Day appeared well on course to add another made cut to his resume.

Those dreams were quickly dashed, however, and Jason Day took a parting shot at Muirfield Village’s Par 3, 16th hole, on his way out.

Jason Day takes parting shot at Muirfield at the ‘perfect’ time.

The unique Par 3, 16th, at Muirfield, was one of several holes that Jack Nicklaus made changes to during his renovations here following the 2020 Memorial Tournament, and as part of the difficult three-hole closing stretch, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see the challenging 16th playing over par for the field once again this week. 

Luckily for Jason, he picked the perfect time to step into the 16th tee box and criticize the challenging Par 3, right as the Golden Bear himself was in the broadcast booth watching on.

Following his errant approach shot that drifted right and found one of the green’s right-side bunkers, the Australian was overheard by a mic as he vented his frustrations calling the hole ‘stupid’.

Mr. Nicklaus was quick to respond to Day’s critique saying “No…I think he might be right” during Friday’s broadcast.

Despite his frustrations, Jason Day salvaged his par and it wasn’t until the closing 18th that one final mistake proved too much to overcome.

After crushing his drive into the heart of the fairway on 18, the 2016 PLAYERS Champion did the one thing he couldn’t afford to do as he sat right on the cutline. From the middle of the fairway, Jason sent his approach directly into the left greenside bunker.

He still had the opportunity to salvage his par on the closing hole, but a third that failed to escape the thick rough that surrounds the green almost assuredly ended any hopes of that. Sure enough, Day failed to hole out with his fourth and eventually dropped the shot on his final hole of the round.

The second round 72 combined with his struggles on Thursday ensured that Day’s struggles at Jack’s event would go on for at least another year.

Perhaps the local resident will turn his misfortunes at this event around at some point, and if and when he does he can apologize to Mr. Nicklaus for criticizing his venue whilst he receives that special handshake from the Golden Bear on the 18th green.