Jason Day Calls Augusta Greens 'Deceiving' as Soft Conditions Surprise Players

The Australian star gave his own take after the soft conditions led to record-low scoring at The Masters Tournament.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 1:37pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the Augusta National golf course and a golfer's swing broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in vibrant colors, conveying the unexpected softness and receptiveness of the course conditions.Soft conditions at Augusta National allow players to attack the course with precision and creativity, producing a flurry of low scores that defy the course's typical challenge.Augusta Today

Jason Day, a 13-time PGA Tour winner, pointed out a contrast between how the Augusta National course looked and how it actually performed during the third round of The Masters Tournament. Day said the greens were 'very receptive' and 'very fair', leading to a scoring average of 70.63, the lowest for a third round in tournament history.

Why it matters

The soft conditions at Augusta National, typically known for its firm and fast greens, caught many players by surprise and led to record-low scoring. This could impact the final round of the tournament, as players adjust their strategies and approach to the course.

The details

Day carded a 4-under 68, moving to 8-under for the tournament and into a tie for fifth. He made four consecutive birdies from the 12th through the 15th, taking advantage of the receptive greens. A total of 19 players returned scores in the 60s, including rounds from Scottie Scheffler and Cameron Young. Overnight watering led to slower and more receptive greens early in the day, but parts of the back nine firmed up with rising temperatures.

  • The third round of The Masters Tournament was played on Saturday, April 12, 2026.

The players

Jason Day

A 13-time PGA Tour winner who is currently tied for fifth place at The Masters Tournament.

Rory McIlroy

The current leader of The Masters Tournament.

Cameron Young

A player who carded a round in the 60s during the third round of The Masters Tournament.

Scottie Scheffler

A player who carded a round in the 60s during the third round of The Masters Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“Yes, very deceiving, yes. I think if they were a little bit firmer and faster, yes. But these greens, they were very receptive today. Yeah, they were very receptive today.”

— Jason Day, PGA Tour Player

“So I thought the green speeds were lovely. I thought the green firmness was great. It was very fair, and I think that's why you're seeing a lot of, like, decent scores out there, which brings in a lot of the crowd, which is great.”

— Jason Day, PGA Tour Player

What’s next

The final round of The Masters Tournament will be played on Sunday, April 13, 2026, where players will look to adjust their strategies based on the softer course conditions.

The takeaway

The unexpected soft conditions at Augusta National during the third round of The Masters Tournament led to record-low scoring, catching many players by surprise. This could have a significant impact on the final round of the tournament as players adapt their approach to the more receptive greens.