Day eyes revenge on FedEx Cup course in NJ

Jason Day is eager to atone for his late stumble at the 2014 FedEx Cup playoffs opener at New Jersey's Ridgewood Country Club.

By Evin Priest, Australian Associated Press
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Australian Jason Day has an axe to grind at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey.

The last time he played the course in the 2014 FedEx Cup finals opener, he squandered the 54-hole lead and an opportunity to force a playoff on the 72nd hole as Hunter Mahan stormed to victory.

"I remember hitting right off the tee into the trees on the last hole when I had to make birdie to tie Mahan, and I didn't have a (clear) shot so had to chip out ... it was disappointing," Day told AAP on Wednesday.

Day settled for a share of second place with fellow Australian Stuart Appleby.

Although he won the event the following year, Queenslander Day admits there is some unfinished business at Ridgewood CC.

"Definitely; I know can contend here," Day said ahead of the Northern Trust, which starts Thursday.

"It's an old school New Jersey course; there are big tall trees with rough that I feel comfortable playing out of, the bunkers have nice sand and around the greens is severe so you have to have great touch.

"That's usually my game; I hit it long and I have pretty good short game and I'm hoping with that formula it sets up well for me."

The 30-year-old has a stellar record in the FedEx Cup playoffs opener, with his 2015 win among five top-10 finishes and nine top-25s from 10 appearances.

"I play pretty damn good in the playoffs," Day admitted.

But even with two wins on the US PGA Tour this year, Day refuses to rest on his laurels given the elite 125-player field are all desperate to get off to flying starts.

"If you get off to a good start, you basically guarantee yourself to go to the Tour Championship with a decent ranking which takes a lot of pressure off your shoulders for the second and third events," Day said.

Day will tee off at Northern Trust with a FedEx Cup rank of sixth, looking to move into the top-five seeds after three events as they can guarantee the $US10 million FedEx Cup bonus with a victory at the Tour Championship finale in late September.


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