Jason Day can’t catch a break. The former World No. 1 has dealt with repeated injuries in recent years, severely impacting a potential Hall of Fame career. On Thursday, he suffered yet another injury that could threaten his chances at this year’s Masters.
Day re-aggravated a previous back injury while picking up his young daughter, according to a report from ESPN. Australian golf writer Evin Priest tweeted Day was getting worked on by his trainer, Dr. Stuey Love.
Jason Day suffering from back pain on the course. He's still playing, but he's walking very carefully right now.#theMasters pic.twitter.com/ZHez4YypRj
— Cam Rogers (@CamRogersLive) April 11, 2019
Jason Day gets treated off the second hole at #theMasters by his trainer Dr Stuey Love. Then hits 278-yard shot into the par 5 and two putts for birdie. Definitely keeps me on my toes as an Aussie golf writer
— Evin Priest (@EvinPriest) April 11, 2019
Earlier this year on the Sunday before the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Day woke up with back pain that made it difficult for him to walk. An MRI later revealed a disc tear. He decided to tee off at Bay Hill anyway, but the injury forced him to walk off the course after eight holes and withdraw from the event.
After receiving injections in his back, Day took his family on a trip to DisneyWorld in Orlando. A photo of Day’s family on the trip that circulated on social media caused many people to criticize his decision to WD from the Arnold Palmer.
The next week at the Players Championship, Day responded to the criticism he had received, saying, “So Friday I heard there was a photo going on social media about me enjoying a day with my family. Heaven forbid I enjoy a day with my family, and I was there half a day walking around.”
He also bristled when questioned about his history of frequent WDs on Tour. Despite all of that, Day played and finished T8 at TPC Sawgrass.
He followed that up with a missed cut at the Valspar before getting knocked out in the round robin play at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. He took last week off to prepare for the Masters. He then took part in the Masters Par-3 Contest with his family on Wednesday.
Day opened his first round on Thursday with a bogey but got it back quickly with a birdie at 2. He was even par through three holes.
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