Jason Day may eclipse Tiger Woods for second successive round

Sky Sports Golf, 6.30pm Friday

Tiger Woods has been victorious eight times at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and will have been pleased with his opening 66 just two weeks after he went so close to winning his 15th Major in the Open at Carnoustie.

Since his return from back surgery, his driver has been his most problematic club - his iron play and putting have been solid - and there were a few wayward drives on Thursday.

His only dropped shot of the day came on his final hole, the ninth, but while he has finished in the top ten on 12 of the 15 occasions he has played at Akron, he was unable to shake playing partner Jason Day off his tail and the value is with backing the Australian to win their 7.10pm twoball.

Day's putting ability gives him a chance in any tournament he plays in and while other players have been making the headlines, it is worth remembering that the former world number one has won twice on the PGA Tour this year.

He missed just one green in regulation on Thursday and while some players can be intimidated by playing alongside Woods, there was little evidence of it bothering Day. If anything, he thrived under the conditions.

The Aussie's record at Firestone is not as brilliant as Tiger's but he was third two years ago and fourth in 2011 so it is not as if he doesn't have any good form on the Ohio track.

He should be able to build on a good first round.

One star who needs to give his game a lift is Jordan Spieth, who hit just five of 14 fairways on his way to a scrappy one-over-par 71.

The three-time Major winner will have to be a lot straighter if he is going to battle his way into contention and he is still losing shots on the field on the greens, which is a big concern for a player who was the best in the world when his flatstick was on fire a few years ago.

Having carded five bogeys in his first round, it is a leap of faith to back him to beat Matthew Fitzpatrick in his 6.50pm match-up.

The straight-hitting Fitzpatrick opened with an encouraging 66 and although he had a miserable time in finishing 60th last year, he can build on that and June's 12th place at the US Open demonstrates he can be at home among the world's best players.

Recommendations
J Day to beat T Woods
2pts 6-5 BetBright
M Fitzpatrick to beat J Spieth
2pts 13-8 Sky Bet

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