‘Kick in the gut’: Jason Day suffers brutal collapse in crushing Masters blow

Jason Day charged up the leaderboard at The Masters but just as he was within striking distance, the Aussie fell apart in a crushing collapse.

Matthew Sullivan

2 min read

April 8, 2023 - 1:39PM

Jason Day’s dream of winning the Masters is in trouble after he let a golden chance slip with a brutal four-shot collapse at the end of his second round.

After opening with a 5-under first round, the Australian shot an even par second round to be seven shots behind Brooks Koepka, the clubhouse leader in a tie for sixth.

But it could have been so much better for Day.

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The 35-year-old was on fire early with birdies on the second, third and ninth holes before he chipped in for birdie on the 11th.

After another birdie on the 13th, Day was 9-under for the tournament and within striking distance of Koepka.

But unfortunately, it all went south as he suffered a crushing late-round collapse.

Day fluffed a chip on the 15th into the water short of the green, leaving him with a double bogey.

It was a case of so close, yet so far Jason Day. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

He then bogeyed the 16th and 18th to slip back to 5-under overall and undo all his good work.

Day lost four shots in four holes in a reminder golf can be a cruel game.

As Sport Illustrated’s Farrell Evans wrote: “On Friday, Day was almost great.”

Jason Day just laid the sod over a wedge on 15.

And almost hit the next one in the water too.

Koepka's lead about to grow.
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) April 7, 2023

Jason Day's gotta be sick. 4 under through his first 14 holes, 4 over on the last 4

Put himself out of contention, most likely
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) April 7, 2023

Jason Day played his last 4 holes in +4. Still in with a shot, but what might have been #TheMasters
— Darren Murphy ðŸ (@MrDMurphy) April 7, 2023

Play was suspended after heavy wind uprooted massive trees and wild weather is expected to turn the final two rounds into a gritty marathon that could take several days.

There’s still time for Day to catch Koepka but he conceded there was a sense he missed an opportunity to put himself in serious contention for the green jacket.

“I’m actually very disappointed with how I finished,” Day said.

“Being decently close to where Brooks was going into the weekend, you never know how it goes, and obviously going from 9 to 5 (under par) was a bit of a kick in the gut.”

“But there’s still 36 holes to go. I’m just going to not even focus on that, just got to focus on just hitting the best shot I can at the time and then add them up after the next few days.

“I’ve just got off the golf course and I’m thoroughly annoyed with myself, and I’m sitting here answering questions, and that can be difficult because it’s in the heat of the moment, and I’m trying to get a hold of myself.

Jason Day was filthy with himself after the second round. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images/AFP.

“Shoot, seven shots is a long way. Who knows what happens over the next few days.

“Obviously I know where Brooks is, but you never know how the weather pans out and then you could find something over the next couple days.”

Despite his collapse, Day (-5) is still Australia’s best chance hope of victory.

Adam Scott, who won at Augusta in 2013, shot an even par round to stay in the mix at -4.

Cameron Smith has struggled by his standards but got himself going with a spectacular fairway bunker shot on the eighth hole that rolled perfectly onto the green.

Smith drained the putt for an eagle to move to -2 with half of his second round still to play.

Cameron Smith's fairway-wood bunker shot leads to an eagle on hole No. 8. #themasters pic.twitter.com/JDt1Sw15Zb
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 7, 2023