Jason Day's first shot on Friday morning was to shoot the seventh 59 in PGA Tour history. All Day had to do was hole the 44-yard pitch shot waiting for him on the par-4 ninth at Conway Farms to wrap up Round 1 of the BMW Championship.
He came up 8 feet short, then missed the birdie putt on hi final hole of the first round.
Day finished with 10-under 61, five shots clear of rookie Daniel Berger, who wrapped with a walk-off eagle of his own on the same ninth hole that will end Day's round. Starting off No. 10, Day made four birdies in his first six holes, but dropped a shot with a three-putt bogey at the par-3 17th. He recovered with birdie to go out in 4-under 32.
The three-hole stretch after the turn propelled Day well ahead of the field and inspired thoughts of a second 59 at the same venue where Jim Furyk scored the magical number in 2013. Day holed out from a fairway bunker for eagle on the par-4 first from 80 yards, then birdied the par-3 second and par-4 third. Playing partner Jordan Spieth played that stretch in 3 under par, including an ace and a chip-in birdie. Day still beat him by a shot.
Birdies on Day's last two full holes of the day got him to 10 under on the day. A 346-yard tee shot to the last set up history. Then the horn blew, suspending play, which resumed at 7:30 a.m. Central time.
