Jason Day produced the equal-best round of the day at the US PGA Tour’s opening playoff event but refused to be satisified, heading straight back out to practice.

Day rocketed 67 positions to be just two shots off the lead at the halfway mark of the Barclays Championship at Ridgewood Country Club.

The 26-year-old played near flawless golf to move to six-under-par, just two adrift of fellow Australian Adam Scott and American Cameron Tringale who share the lead at eight under.

But solid in the knowledge hard work over the last three weeks since getting the all clear on the injury front led to the hot round, Day didn’t shirk rolling up his sleeves in the fading New Jersey light.

Despite being one of the last players finished in round two late in the evening he worked the full gamut of chipping, bunker play, putting, wedge shots and full swings.

“I have been working pretty hard ever since getting the all clear not to worry about my thumb,” Day said.

“It has been hard to get practice momentum over a stop start year like this so I can not afford to be lazy now I have the chance to get it.

“It feels good when you do the work and you see it pay off.”

Day put a big target on the playoffs as his chance to atone for up and down year that has yielded his biggest career victory at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship but also four withdrawals from tournaments and a major season hampered by injury.

He has reasonable history at Ridgewood, finishing fifth in 2010 when the Barclays was last hosted by the course.

“We have been trying to work towards these playoffs and hopefully after this work tonight I get even more comfortable and then go out on the weekend and put it together,” he said.

“I feel good. I have two more days left and there are some great players on this leaderboard so it is turning into an exciting tournament.”