Jason Day loses ground with 2-over Friday

Friday is usually Jason Day’s round to strengthen his status as a threat.

This year, he’s barely in leader Jordan Spieth’s rearview mirror.

After beginning the day at 5-under and three shots off the lead, Day couldn’t keep pace with Spieth and others. His 2-over 74 dropped him to 3-under for the tournament and 11 back of the lead. Of his four career Friday rounds at Augusta, this was his worst.

“The momentum was rolling my way,” Day said. “I hit a couple of good shots, got a couple of good bounces and rolled in a few good putts at the right time and I walk off with 67. Do the exact same (Friday) and you don’t get the right bounces, you don’t hole the putts that you need to, to give yourself the opportunities, and walk off with a 74. It’s a fine line between playing fantastic golf and not playing great.”

Of Day’s three career Mas­ters Tournament rounds in the 60s, two happened in the second round, perhaps a sign of a push before moving day. But Day never found rhythm Friday. Even with an eagle on No. 2 – his second at the hole in just his fifth Masters start – he lost two strokes.

The Australian had three bogeys in the first seven holes after getting just two Thurs­day. His two three-putts Friday were his first of the tournament.

Day appeared in good shape when he reached 6-under with his eagle, set up when his second shot landed 10 feet from the pin. But by the time he got to the 15th hole, he was down to 2-under. A birdie on No. 15 brought him back a shot, but he was well behind Spieth by then.

“I can’t control what he’s doing right now,” Day said about the leader. “If he’s going to go out and play and shoot a record-setting tournament, then obviously that’s just in his hands. The only way I can do it is just try and give myself the opportunities and find something on the range (Friday) afternoon to really commit and trust my swing.”