Australia’s Jason Day, chasing his first US PGA victory since 2018, fired an eight-under par 62 despite a sore back to seize a one-stroke lead Friday at the Travelers Championship.
The former world number one, who last won three years ago at Quail Hollow, fired eight birdies in a bogey-free round to stand on 131 after 36 holes at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.
Day was one stroke ahead of two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and first-round co-leader Kramer Hickok with England’s Justin Rose and South Korean Lee Kyoung-hoon in a pack on 133.
“Body is OK. Just stiff,” Day said. “Any time going left was a little bit sore. I haven’t had time to really rest it since I kind of put it out.”
Day, the 2015 PGA Championship winner, missed three consecutive cuts before sharing 44th at the PGA Championship then withdrew from the Memorial with a back injury earlier this…
