It’s hard to find a golfer who has been playing better than Jason Day since last August. Day won his first major at last year’s PGA Championship, and he hasn’t slowed down since, winning yet again Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Day continued his success for most of his matchup Wednesday with Graeme McDowell at the WGC Match Play Championships, but everything changed when he tweaked his back on the 15th hole at Austin Country Club.
And it got even worse on the 16th tee.
Oh man, I hope this isn't serious. https://t.co/Fllhno9X0r pic.twitter.com/oQVQIcFPKo
— Michael Shamburger (@mshamburger1) March 23, 2016
Oh no! Jason Day tweaks his back on this tee shot on No. 16. Doesn't look great. Let's see how his next shot goes… pic.twitter.com/q9R1ik6dUP
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 23, 2016
Day’s dominant play for most of the round allowed him to close out the match on the 16th hole with a 3 and 2 win over McDowell.
But he still was visibly hurt afterward.
Hard to watch Jason Day in pain again. Politely declined post-match interview for obvious reasons. Shame. pic.twitter.com/zEJVOBQLCD
— Beth Ann Nichols (@GolfweekNichols) March 23, 2016
After winning match @JDayGolf getting treatment on back. Tweaked after drive on 15. Had back problems before but no issues so far this year.
— Todd Lewis (@ToddLewisGC) March 23, 2016
“It’s really hard to play when there is searing pain in both sides of your back,” Day told The Australian Associated Press, via ESPN.com. “I’m really struggling. I need to get treatment right away to see what’s wrong.”
Day’s status for the rest of the WGC Match Play Championships is unknown but, as ESPN.com points out, the round-robin format means he could rest Thursday and still play Friday against Paul Casey.
Thumbnail photo via Soobum Im/USA TODAY Sports Images
