The year’s second major gets under way late on Thursday with Cameron Smith the pick of the Australians as he chases a maiden triumph in Oklahoma.
Jason Day,who led after each of the first two rounds,struggled through a 79 in the third round to fall 12 spots in a tie for 13th at 1-under for the tournament.
Jason Day has praised his mother Dening Day as the person who springboarded him from poverty in Brisbane to the top of world golf after her death.
The Aussie pair continued to dominate at the Greg Norman-hosted event in Florida and are in the box seat for a $1.25m payday.
Australians Marc Leishman and Jason Day teamed up for a 16-under 56,coming up just one stroke shy of the event’s scramble scoring record,to take the first-round lead at the QBE Shootout.
Jason Day had expected to contend in the 149th Open but will not be required for weekend play.
Former world No.1 Jason Day says he has started to fall in love with the Open itself and its challenging courses rather than just the history it evokes.
Australian major winner Jason Day has not missed a major in almost a decade but could be sidelined for the next two with his wife Ellie heavily pregnant.
Only a dozen players managed to break par in the opening round of the Masters. No one was close to Justin Rose.
The world No.1 holds all the aces heading into the final round at Augusta,but the trio heading up the chase includes an unlikely Queenslander.
Adam Scott is one of five Australians in action at Augusta this week,his Masters preparation interrupted by a positive COVID-19 test.