As clear as Day: Focused Aussie eyes the Claret Jug as he prepares for Troon test to worsen

In a British Open at Troon where the weather has tested the mettle of the world’s best golfers, Australian star Jason Day feels mentally prepared for the challenges ahead this weekend. The 2015 US PGA champion is tied for seventh after scoring a 3-under 68 in extremely difficult conditions, as 60km/h gales battered the course, dashing the hopes of his compatriots.

Resilience and focus will be crucial for the leaders in their pursuit of the Claret Jug over the next 48 hours, with worsening weather expected when the rain returns this weekend. Only Day and Adam Scott will play this weekend after Min Woo Lee, Cameron Smith, Elvis Smylie, and Jasper Stubbs missed the cut. Day, benefiting from better conditions early on, made two early birdies and maintained his composure on the back nine, finishing at 1-under, six shots behind leader Shane Lowry. Meanwhile, Scott acknowledged he has only a “prayer’s hope” of contending after struggling in the harsh conditions on Friday.

Day, 36, credits his mental preparation with long-time performance coach Jason Goldsmith for his readiness. “It’s been a long last two days. I’ll just try to conserve some energy because the weekend is going to be tough. I did a lot of hard work coming up to this week,” Day said. Emphasizing the importance of mental resilience, he added, “It takes a lot of mental energy when you’re focused during practice, and it can drain you. So, I try to make my practice hard and then taper off for the tournament. It’s very important to have your mental rest, especially on the weekend.”

Scott rallied with a birdie on 17, ending at 5-over and just inside the cut line. He described the day’s difficulty, saying, “I’ve found myself in this position a lot over the last few years. I just kept plugging away. Somehow I did not let what happened make me think I couldn’t play golf. But that’s really hard.” Scott expressed a mix of relief and pride in making the cut, acknowledging the challenge of the conditions and the need for extraordinary performance to contend for the title.

Scott will compete this weekend while champions like Cameron Smith, Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, and Tiger Woods are among those heading home. Min Woo Lee, who started Friday even, shot a 9-over 80, matching Smith’s opening day struggles. Elvis Smylie and Jasper Stubbs also had tough debuts, finishing at 10-over.

Scott noted the difficulty modern players face in adapting to conditions requiring lower ball trajectories and reliance on ground play. “You have to strike your shots pure and start on a tight line. We aren’t used to seeing the ball move this much in the air, and it’s hard to put it on the ground. The confidence to hit a five iron low from 150 meters and run it into the front isn’t there,” he explained. He acknowledged the skill of those managing better but highlighted the challenge once things start going wrong.

Stubbs, who showed improvement on Friday, reflected on his experience, saying, “The conditions were testing, but I felt like I handled it well. It’s amazing to see the other side of it. I love playing in front of a crowd and feeling the energy.” He hopes to return next year by defending the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, which earned him spots in the US Masters and British Open.