World No.6 Jason Day has been cleared of any serious back problems and will attempt to play through pain as he tries to claim the US PGA Tour’s season-long FedEx Cup.
Day was in serious discomfort with a lower back strain on Thursday in the opening round of the BMW Championship, the penultimate playoff event, but still managed to put together an even-par round of 70 to sit just three shots off the lead.
An MRI in Denver last night cleared the 26-year-old of any serious injury, instead showing general wear and tear, and allowing him to continue playing.
“The MRI came back clear I just have some stiffness and soreness, I guess you could just say it is golfer’s back,” Day told AAP before heading out to test himself on the range.
“It turns out my legs are too strong for my core and it is adding stress to my back, so I really have to strengthen my core over the off season to try and lessen the impact.”
Day was able to get through his warmup without issues and is headed to the first tee to try to chase down the overnight leaders, including world No.1 Rory McIlroy.
This is just the latest in a series of injury and health problems which have blighted Day’s season.
At seventh on the points list, Day is the highest-ranked Australian, giving him the best chance of winning the FedEx Cup at next week’s season-ending Tour Championship – if he continues to play.
He’s had a horror run since incurring thumb injury while winning the WGC-Match Play Championship in February.
He was able to play just four tournaments over the next five months, with several throat infections ruling out earlier comebacks.
When he returned to full practice at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in early August, Day was floored by a bout of vertigo, a side effect to his medication, forcing another withdrawal.
Finally hitting his straps in the last month with a tie for 15th at the US PGA Championship, a second place at the opening playoffs event and a seventh at the second one last week, Day is understandably frustrated with this latest complaint.
