Day hoping to keep game on upswing

The last time Jason Day was in Las Vegas, he was flirting with history on the final day of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Day was tearing up the front side of TPC Summerlin on Oct. 7, going on a birdie run that left him at 7-under par 28 at the turn. The course record of 61 was within reach.

More importantly, he had played himself into contention for the title. However, he was unable to maintain that level of excellence on the back nine and wound up finishing fourth behind winner Ryan Moore.

"I hadn't been playing that great coming into that week," Day said. "But I hit it really well all week, and obviously it showed I could still compete."

His play at the Shriners Open was the highlight of his 2012 season, which saw him earn $1,143,233 and record four top-10 finishes in just 17 events entered.

Today, he returns to Southern Nevada as a first-time participant in the Wendy's 3Tour Challenge at Rio Secco Golf Club.

He'll team with Henderson resident Nick Watney and Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III to represent the PGA Tour against Lake Las Vegas resident Natalie Gulbis, Stacy Lewis and Suzann Pettersen of the LPGA Tour, and Tom Lehman, Bernhard Langer and Fred Funk of the Champions Tour.

"It should be a lot of fun," Day said. "I talked to Nick about playing the course since he lives here, and he told me that it's long but fairly straight. The big thing for me will be all the changes in elevation. It's a lot more than at (TPC) Summerlin. So that's something I have to be aware of. It's going to be a long walk."

Day took off part of the PGA Tour season after his son was born in mid-July. And playing in an event where money raised goes to the Dave Thomas Foundation, which is dedicated to helping foster care children get adopted, resonated with Day.

"Having just become a father for the first time, I'm so glad my son's come into the world with a loving family," he said. "But there are many children who don't have that, and it saddens me to see any child in that situation. So I think the work the Dave Thomas Foundation does is great, and I'm proud to be part of helping kids."

The PGA Tour team has won eight of the previous 20 3Tour Challenge events. Day said he wants to play well today to not only help his team, but to keep building momentum for the 2013 Tour season.

"I didn't have as good a year as I had hoped, but I played well in Vegas last month, and I'm hoping to have a good day here and have it carry over (to 2013)," Day said. "I feel good about my game, and I plan to play 25 to 27 events next year."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.