Freeport McDermott Classic
English Turn Golf Course and Country Club
New Orleans
2nd - 5th April 1998

Par 72 Prize Money $1.7 million

First Round Report

First Round Scores

Day shoots 64 to lead by two-shots

New Orleans, 2nd April 1998- Glen Day didn't live up to his nickname in the first round of the Freeport*McDermott Classic. The man called "All Day" because of his slow, deliberate style looked as if he was in a hurry to get somewhere else today.

Day made eight birdies on the first 12 holes, then played steady par over the final six to finish at 64 -- two strokes off the course record -- giving him the lead and a leg up on the final exemption for next week's Masters.

Two players -- Jay Delsing and Steve Flesch -- were tied for second two strokes back at 66.

A group of golfers finished at 67, including D.A. Weibring. There was another jam at 68 and a group at 69 that included Bob Tway.

"I'm playing good golf now and when you play good, the best thing you can do is get out of your own way," Day said. "I'm not worrying about The Masters. My job is to play this tournament and do the best I can do in this tournament. Now, if I win it, obviously that gets me a ticket to The Masters. But I've got to take care of this business here and if I win it, good things will come."

Day used a 45-foot bunker shot to birdie the par-4 first hole, then added birdies on the second, fifth, sixth, seventh, ninth, 11th and 12th. He missed five greens, but saved par each time.

"Good shots breed confidence and confidence breeds good shots," Day said. "So which came first, the chicken or the egg?"

Defending champion Brad Faxon finished the 7,116-yard course at even-par 72. He was in a group that included Davis Love III and Lanny Wadkins.

Seve Ballesteros, playing in his first U.S. tournament of the year, shot a 73.

Day had a two-stroke lead with nine holes to play in last week's Players Championship, only to finish two strokes behind Justin Leonard, tied for second. He led after the first round last week as well after eagling the 18th hole at the TPC at Sawgrass Stadium Course to shoot 66.

Last year, Day finished 98th on the money list. His best finish on the Tour was second place in 1994.

Before the PGA Tour, Day, 32, played on the European and Asian tours.

"My last victory was in Malaysia a long time ago," Day said.

Still, he credits his years abroad with making him the golfer he's become.

"It taught me a lot about growing up, how to learn how to play golf," Day said. "That if things don't go your way there's no sense in laying down and crying about it."

Day ranks 10th through eight events this year and has earned $467,006, including $352,000 at last week's Players.

The other good news for him is that his best round in tournaments this year has been the final one.

"I'm doing a lot of things very well," Day said. "I'm just going to try to continue to do what I'm doing. You're not going to shoot 30 on the front nine every day. The challenges will come when the ball instead of bouncing toward the hole it bounces in the bunker."