Negative thoughts beating many before tee-off at Pinehurst

Surprises and improbable developments are frequent visitors to sports theatres, of course, but without confirmation of what they will be, it seems safe to suggest that you can cross Jason Day off your list of contenders at this week’s US Open.

Left thumb still sore? Too little competitive golf in recent months? Rusty?

Sure, there’s all of that, but more prominently, Day appears to have fallen victim to the oldest malady in Major championship golf: A predetermined dislike to the set-up of a US Open course.