2025 Masters day two: Jason Day in contention, Adam Scott misses cut

Jason Day is four shots off the pace and well in contention at the turn in the 2025 Masters, and can trace his resurgence to a text sent to his former coach in January.

It’s the text message that reignited Jason Day’s career and Masters dreams.

In January, Day, 37, picked up the phone and sent a video of his swing to his old coach Colin Swatton.

It led to a reunion of the pair who split during Covid in 2020.

“I sent swings through and said, hey, can you look at this, and then that kind of evolved into more texts and more calls,” Day said after his second-round 70 at Augusta.

“I’m like, hey, if you’ve got time I’d love for us to try and get back together and work.

“Fortunately he’s got some time. I know that he’s busy with doing his commentary stuff and (coaching young Australian) Karl (Vilips), but it’s nice to have him back on the team.”

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Day sits at four-under at the Masters after two rounds, just four shots back of leader Justin Rose.

“I was doing my own thing kind of at the end of the year. As a professional golfer, you can’t,” Day said.

“You need a good solid team around you. It’s very difficult to do -- thinking you can do everything yourself. Even though you may have the knowledge for it.

How to watch the Masters in Australia?

For the first time, the only place to watch the Masters live is Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.

“He (Swatton) just said, you’ve got to fly the plane. Just go out there and fly the plane. Some weeks you’re not going to have the best stuff, so just go out there and try and get it done.

“That reminds me a lot of what we did well back in ‘14, ‘15, ‘16 (when Day became the world No.1).”

Jason Day reacts after bogeying the 18th - his only bogey through the first 36 holes at the Masters. Picture: Michael Reaves / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Swatton last month predicted his man would soon contend in major championships again.

Day and Min Woo Lee (71-72) were the only Australians to make the weekend at Augusta.

Adam Scott missed the cut for the first time in 16 years, shooting an even par 72.

Cameron Smith (71-78) and Cameron Davis (74 and 79) also fell outside the cut line.

It’s the first time Smith has headed home early in nine visits.

A gutted Smith said his campaign “just didn’t really work out”.

“I just got nothing out of it. I still love the place,” Smith said.

“I don’t think there’s any bad feeling there. I’ve had rounds like this before here and it can just come up and bite you. So I can’t wait to get back and do a better job.”

If not for a miss on the 18th hole on Friday, Day would have become the first player in 46 years to go bogey-free across the first two rounds at Augusta.

He has come close at the Masters twice before, in 2011 and 2013 when Scott won.

“Just get yourself into contention on the back side. Anything happens on the back side,” Day said of his weekend strategy.

Adam Scott on 18 - Scott missed the cut for the first time in 16 years. Picture: Harry How/Getty Images

“Obviously there’s proof of certain people or individuals that have struggled on the back side and certain guys that have played well on the back side and won, too. I’m not going to name names because obviously that might bring up memories of people.

“I know it’s going to be tough, but get the opportunities, try and capitalize on them and then get myself into contention on the back nine on Sunday.”

Golf Australia chief executive James Sutherland, who is at the Masters, said he expected most of the big-name Aussies to play in this year’s national open.

“(We’re) pretty optimistic about that and there’s no doubt our Australian players are very, very passionate about it and those that haven’t got their name on the trophy want it and those that have, want it again,” he said.

Asked if he would be chasing any big name foreign players to tee it up, Sutherland said: “The LIV golfers don’t play as much ... we’ll definitely talk to them and I’ve spoken to Cam (Smith) and his teammates, they’re a tight group.

“Getting them interested is one thing but there’s significant fees in bringing these guys down.

It’s trying to work out how that comes together. But we want it to have an international flavour.”.

Originally published as 2025 Masters day two: Jason Day in contention, Adam Scott misses cut