Mum’s salty chicken motivates Jason Day to lead World Cup of Golf

It was Australia’s Day during the third round of the 2013 World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne.

Jason Day has shot to the top of the leaderboard at the World Cup of Golf with a fighting third round 5-under par 66 at Royal Melbourne.

Day leads Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn by one shot, with American Matt Kuchar two further shots behind going into the final round.

Together with Adam Scott’s 3-under par round, Australia has also taken the lead in the teams event. They lead the US combination of Matt Kuchar and Kevin Streelman by one shot with one round to play.

You could be forgiven for thinking Jason Day’s mind isn’t focussed on the golf this week. As he arrived in Australia for the World Cup of Golf, Day was informed that some of his relatives had been killed by the typhoon that swept through The Philippines last week.

Day hadn’t seen his mother for a year but were reunited this morning before Day’s third round where his mother gave him some of her home-made salty chicken recipe.

“It was only brief because I had to go, I had to leave and get ready for my round. But I hung out in her  room for 30 minutes and she brought some chicken down for me,” Day said.

“She makes a special chicken. It’s salty. We call it salty chicken. It’s pretty much a heart attack in a box and I haven’t had it for a while so if I don’t show up for the round tomorrow you know where I am. I am probably lying on my bed.”

Fellow Aussie Adam Scott fought hard for his 3-under 68 to get back to 2-under for the tournament.

Scott may be too far back to win his third consecutive tournament but some fabulous bunker shots on the back nine meant Australia are a great chance to win the World Cup of Golf for the first time since 1989 when Peter Fowler and Wayne Grady combined for victory in Spain.

“The team doesn’t need to be that close,” Scott said after his round.

“You know, if we’re within five, we’re every chance tomorrow and personally I think if they’re not in double digits I’ve still got a chance to post a number tomorrow and win this tournament.”

Francesco Molinari also shot 5-under par round to bring himself back into the golf tournament. The Italian made the turn in with a 4-under 31 including four birdies to climb the leaderboard.

Molinari won the World Cup of Golf in 2009 when he teamed up with his brother Eduardo, but Italy won;t be winning the team title this year as young star Matteo Manassero is second last at 13-over par.

I think winning in China was obviously very special for both of us,” Molinari said.

“But still, you know, winning the individual it would be fantastic, especially on a golf course like this with such great history. So I think it would be pretty much the same feeling.”

The highlight and the lowlight of the day belonged to Welshman Stuart Manley who birdied his opening two holes before making an ace at the par-3 3rd hole. He turned and hugged the Mercedes-Benz sitting on the tee only to be informed that it was only on offer for an ace on Sunday.

Clearly rattled by the news, Manley recorded a 7-over par septuple bogey on the next hole to come crashing back to earth.

Late in the round Manley kept on entertaining with a chip-in eagle on the 15th hole and eventually signing off for one of the most remarkable even par rounds you’ll ever see.