|
 Day, who could leapfrog Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth to reach the
top of the rankings with victory this week, produced sizzling form
as he moved to 10 under par after 17 holes before play was suspended
for the day due to the threat of lightning.
That left the Australian world number three a commanding four
strokes ahead of American Daniel Berger, who eagled his final hole,
the par-four ninth, for a six-under 65 in breezy conditions at
Conway Farms Golf Club.
Day had just hit his tee shot 346 yards into the right rough at the
ninth, his final hole, before the siren sounded to halt the action
and he faces a second shot from 44 yards for what would be a
sensational eagle.
Should he hole out from there when he returns to the course on
Friday morning to complete his round, he would become only the
seventh player on the PGA Tour to shoot a 59.
"If it goes in, it goes in," said Day. "Right now I'm just trying to
play the best I can. I'm just trying to get off to a good start.
"I feel like this is one of the best rounds I've ever played,
especially with how the wind is.
"Just the way I'm playing, hitting the greens and putting and just
how everything is kind of going, hitting it long and straight ...
it's a good thing for success out there."
TRYING TO KEEP PACE
Masters and U.S. Open champion Spieth was part of a four-way tie for
third at five under as he tried to keep pace with playing partner
Day in the third of the PGA Tour's four concluding playoff events in
the season-long FedExCup race.
Spieth was level with fellow Americans Brendon Todd, who returned a
66, Kevin Chappell, who had completed 16 holes, and Justin Thomas,
after 13.
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Day, who won the Canadian Open, PGA Championship and The Barclays in
his last five starts, chalked up four birdies in his first six holes
and though he gave a shot back on the 17th with a three-putt bogey,
the 27-year-old then caught fire.
He birdied the 18th, holed out for eagle from a fairway bunker at
the par-four first and added back-to-back birdies at the second and
third to storm three strokes clear.
Day picked up further shots at the seventh and eighth to get to 10
under and raise hopes of a magical 59, then hit his tee shot at the
ninth before play was suspended.
Spieth was unable to keep pace with the red-hot Australian, despite
registering a hole-in-one at the second and a chip-in birdie at the
third, and was five under for the round after 17 holes.
World number one McIlroy was at three under after 12 holes in an
elite field of 70 players from which just 30 will advance to the
Tour Championship finale next week in Atlanta.
PGA Tour veteran Jim Furyk, who shot a 59 two years ago at Conway
Farms in the second round of the BMW Championship, withdrew from the
tournament with a wrist injury after completing just six holes in
the opening round.
(Editing by Mark Lamport-Stokes)
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