Sleepless Day sick in first major title defence

Top-ranked Jason Day is sick and tired after a trip to the hospital with his wife and unfamiliar with the formidable Baltusrol layout where he defends his first major title starting today at the PGA Championship.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, who were ranked one and two in the world heading into last year’s PGA Championship, return this year almost as after-thoughts, overshadowed by a wave of hotter rivals who have grabbed the limelight.
The 28-year-old Australian, already fatigued after playing three events in four weeks, rested Monday and Tuesday and did not practice at the 7,428-yard, par-70 layout, deciding to play his first 18 holes at Baltusrol on the eve of the tournament.
What Day didn’t plan for were his children passing along their illness to him and his wife, Ellie, having an allergic reaction and being taken to a nearby hospital after they attended Tuesday’s Champions Dinner.
“Ellie had an allergic reaction last night and had to go to the hospital. We were there until two o’clock or something like that so I’m kind of running on E (empty) right now,” Day said.
“I had to call the paramedics over. She was kind of freaking out in the back of the bus, which is understandable, because she got all red. I’ve been in that situation before when I first ate seafood. That’s why I don’t eat seafood anymore.
“So we ended up calling 911, the paramedics came and they looked after her which is great. She’s fine now. We got a little bit of loss of sleep but we’re fine.”
It didn’t help Day caught the family cold.
“Dash and Lucy are sick right now and Dash kind of passed that on to me a little bit,” Day said. “Like, I’m OK. I’m fine. I’m just a little bit under the weather.”
Day’s caddie has scouted the course and Day spent 30 minutes with Baltusrol’s club pro, Doug Steffen, going over the layout.
“But with the limited practice and prep I’ve had, I’m not coming into this week expecting a lot,” Day admitted. “I’m not really going, ‘You need to go out and force things straightaway.’
“I’ve got to really try and manage my patience out there, because I have very little patience right now. Every time I get a little bit under the weather, I’ve got zero patience. I’ve got to manage that the best I can.
“I really have to go out there and try and find a game plan that works for me.”

MCILROY, SPIETH OVERSHADOWED
McIlroy, winner of four major championships including the 2012 and 2014 PGA Championships, feels more at home at Baltusrol than at Royal Troon, where he tied for fifth, a distant 16 strokes behind winner Stenson nine days ago.
The Northern Irishman is probably the best driver in the world when he is on song, but links courses such as Troon that often do not necessitate hitting a driver do not always play to his strength.
“Baltusrol, it’s more of my type of golf I guess, and I feel like I can really do well this week. I feel like my game is in good shape,” McIlroy told reporters on Tuesday ahead of today’s opening round.
Spieth also thinks he is on the verge of firing on all cylinders, after recently deciding to just grip it and rip it, to use the old John Daly line, rather than over-thinking things.
“I’ve been getting a bit too frustrated at times but recently I’ve gotten back to kind of the gunslinger, the way that I grew up playing, which is just step up and hit it,” the Texan said on the eve of his 23rd birthday.
“I have more confidence in my mid-to-long-iron play than I did last year. Short game has gone down just a bit. I’m working hard on it.”
Day tees off today morning alongside four-time major champion and world number four Rory McIlroy and US 46-year-old left-hander Phil Mickelson, a five-time major winner who captured the 2005 PGA at Baltusrol.
Spieth joins 2012 and 2014 Masters winner Bubba Watson and Spaniard Sergio Garcia, who as twice finished second at PGA — 1999 and 2008, for an afternoon start.