Jason Day handles rain, expands lead at Wells Fargo Championship

POTOMAC, Md. — Jason Day shook his head vigorously after holing an 11-footer for birdie on his ninth gap at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm — not out of disgust, however to whip the surplus water off his cap. For the remainder of the spherical, Day shed the hat fully.

No matter it took to get by way of a moist blanket of a day within the Wells Fargo Championship.

Day anticipated a grind and acquired one, taking pictures a 3-under 67 in regular rain Friday to increase his result in three pictures. Going for his first victory in 4 years, the previous No. 1 participant was at 10-under 130 by way of two rounds and relishing the possibility to chill out and watch the remainder of the sector attempt to keep dry.

“I am trying ahead to it. It is good to be again within the combine, good to be main. It is nonetheless two extra days left, so I can not get too far forward of myself,” Day mentioned.

The rain did not cease for lengthy within the afternoon because the scoring common at par-70 TPC Potomac ballooned to 72.6, three pictures greater than Thursday. Extra rain, unseasonable chilly and stronger wind have been anticipated Saturday, adopted by even colder temperatures Sunday.

Day acquired a tip from enjoying associate Max Homa, who was his closest pursuer after a 66. Homa informed Day he flinched as a result of water dripped from the invoice of his cap onto his putter, inflicting him to ram his birdie try by 6 ft on the par-4 18th. Homa tossed the hat to caddie Joe Greiner earlier than making the comebacker.

Day performed his second 9 holes hatless, a uncommon sight on the PGA Tour.

“I imply, not many instances you see this hair, however hopefully this climate can form of go away and we will have hats on for the weekend,” he mentioned.

Day and Homa have been grouped with Rickie Fowler, all previous Wells Fargo champions at Quail Hole in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event is making a one-and-done look at TPC Potomac as a result of its normal venue is internet hosting the Presidents Cup in September.

The course is simply high-quality by tour requirements, however the climate could not be a lot worse for early Could within the mid-Atlantic. Photographs from the primary reduce of tough despatched water splashing off the clubface, and greenback bill-sized divots landed within the fairway with a loud thud.

No person spent a lot time fussing over the ball within the group of Day, Homa and Fowler, who shot 72 and was eight pictures again. Day did not hassle to take down the gallery ropes earlier than hitting a flop shot from properly left of the seventeenth inexperienced, and Homa effectively took reduction from an embedded lie with out ready for a guidelines official.

Day was happy his retooled swing held up even when he felt out of rhythm.

“When you could have circumstances like this, it is actually arduous to decide to a shot since you’re entering into there and also you’re doing it form of loads faster than your regular pre-shot routine,” Day mentioned. “You need to power your self to hit the shot and belief that.”

Homa opened with an eagle and made 5 extra birdies in a spherical he wasn’t positive he’d end.

“I informed Joe this morning I assumed we’d get to eight. The greens have held up rather well,” Homa mentioned. “We did simply play 18 full holes within the rain, so it is arduous to say we acquired attached, however possibly, who is aware of. I am simply blissful to be achieved.”

Denny McCarthy, from close by Rockville, was the one participant within the afternoon to problem the highest of the leaderboard. He had six straight one-putt greens across the flip, 4 of them to save lots of par, and shot 69 to complete at 6 underneath, becoming a member of Luke Listing (66), James Hahn (68) and Kurt Kitayama (67). Keegan Bradley had the low spherical of the day, a 65 that left him 5 pictures again.

Rory McIlroy, the highest-ranked participant within the discipline at No. 7, shot 73 to complete at even par. Matthew Wolff, who shot an out-of-nowhere 65 on Thursday, fell again with a 73.

A day after he informed a guidelines official he “cannot wait to go away this tour,” Sergio Garcia was 5 underneath on the flip however bogeyed two of his ultimate three holes for a 71. He was eight pictures again and declined to talk to reporters for the second straight day.

Morgan Hoffmann, making a long-shot bid to maintain his tour card after two years away from golf due to muscular dystrophy, missed the reduce with rounds of 73 and 80. He has one begin remaining on a significant medical extension and desires a tie for second to earn full standing for the remainder of the season.