THE 154TH OPEN

July 16, 2026

Jason Day

Mixed Zone

Q. How would you assess the round today?

JASON DAY: Played okay. I left four or five shots out there, especially with my short game and putting. Missed two relatively easy up-and-downs on the back side and then had two three-putts practically. Then I missed a really short birdie putt from like three feet. So that's five shots right there.

Instead of being 3-over, I should be at least 2-under without doing too much, without asking too much.

I think overall it was pretty solid. I felt pretty good about my game. I just didn't score well at all.

Q. When I saw you at the range a couple of days ago, you were working hard on the short game and the wedges. Is that something that when you haven't played for a little while --

JASON DAY: No, I've been practising. I just had a poor day, unfortunately. It's all of that timing sometimes, and you have a poor day putting.

Funny thing is I actually felt pretty good putting. Leading into this event, I felt pretty good, and the short game felt really good. You just don't -- if you don't score, you can't shoot a low one.

Yeah, if I was 2-under coming in, I'd be pretty happy, especially with how tough the conditions started to get at the end of my round.

Q. So you reckon this afternoon might be a bit harder?

JASON DAY: I don't know. I didn't really check out how much wind there was going to be this afternoon, but once it switched to that northwesterly kind of wind, it picked up obviously significantly, and it was -- obviously it felt -- it's a different wind than what we practised in in the practice rounds.

Overall I think we were kind of prepared for it. It didn't make the holes any easier or harder coming in. It's just you needed to execute.

Q. You spoke yesterday about the body and how you've been moving. How did you feel today?

JASON DAY: Not too bad. Obviously about the same as yesterday. Overall I feel pretty happy with where the body is moving to. I've just got to keep working on it.

I've got to go do some putting right now actually. I was just telling these guys I need to practise some putting. It was pretty poor today.

Q. Coming out to Royal Birkdale, any surprises on day one of the tournament?

JASON DAY: Just trying to figure out how far some of these balls, when they land, especially downwind, how far the ball is going to roll on the fairways and on the greens as well. That was the trickiest part.

Other than that, I think they did a good job setting up the golf course. I think it's relatively receptive for what we've got conditions-wise on the green. I think they've done a fantastic job with that. Just got to shoot a low one tomorrow.