Australian golf star Jason Day is on the cusp of a breakthrough as he enters the final round of the PGA Tour’s American Express tournament in California. Sitting at -19 and tied for second, Day is just four shots behind leader Sepp Straka, setting the stage for a dramatic finale.
Steady and Strong: Day’s Tournament Performance
Day has been a model of consistency this weekend, delivering rounds of -8, -6, and -5 across the tournament. In his third round, he notched seven birdies, only marred by bogeys on holes 5 and 13. His steady performance has firmly placed him in the hunt for his first PGA Tour victory since May 2023.
Post-round, Day spoke about the strides he’s made with his game, highlighting a technical improvement that has boosted his confidence.
“There’s been a dramatic improvement in the technical aspect of the swing,” Day explained. “It feels like the club’s a little more square coming through the shot, and that’s a bit more controllable, which is nice.”
Fixing the Missing Piece
Day attributes much of his recent success to refining his approach play—an area he admits held him back last year.
“Putting’s been solid pretty much every year, driving’s been solid too, same as the short game,” Day said. “But approach play into the greens was the missing piece for me. It’s been a good start—I don’t really think about it too much, just get into it tomorrow and go from there.”
Chasing Down Straka
Leader Sepp Straka was unstoppable in the third round, shooting a blistering -8 on the La Quinta Course. His front nine featured six birdies, leaving him at -23 heading into the final round. The competition now moves to the demanding Pete Dye Stadium Course, where Day will need his improved swing and composure to close the gap.
While there’s no guarantee of victory, Jason Day has positioned himself as a serious contender. With his game clicking at just the right time, fans will be watching closely as he aims to end his 21-month PGA Tour drought in style.
