Jason Day is channelling Roger Federer to thrive in the limelight of his headline grouping at the $A12.63 million Players Championship.
Playing alongside world No.1 Rory McIlroy and No.2 Jordan Spieth, Day matched McIlroy with a three-under par 69 opening round at TPC Sawgrass while Masters champion Spieth faltered with a 75.
It left Day - and fellow Australian Marc Leishman - just two shots off the lead held by Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, Canadian David Hearn and Americans Charley Hoffman and Kevin Na.
World No.7 Day admitted keeping his emotions in check was crucial, ensuring he did not overplay his hand in a bid to prove a point against the younger, higher-ranked McIlroy and Spieth.
"It's hard not to get jacked up. It definitely amplifies everything when you're playing with guys like that," Day said.
"To be honest it's great to play with these guys, and I've got to beat those guys, but I think the biggest thing is not beating myself.
"I'm just trying to get myself into contention and hopefully give myself a shot at the tournament on Sunday so a big goal of mine today was just try and keep level and enjoy myself."
To do so, Day did his best to replicate tennis great Federer, drawing on his example to steady his emotions and salvage a good score despite not playing his best golf.
" Every time after a point, he (Federer) is just kind of very level, he's n his own little world, and then he's on to the next point.
"So that's what I was trying to think of, just kind of mimic what he does," Day said.
"I've done that for a while now, but it obviously definitely helps a lot more when you're playing with a big group like that."
Day arrived at the 10th tee, their group's first of the day, well in front of McIlroy and Spieth and carried a steely look of focus and a strut in his step throughout the round.
Even when he made double bogey on the tough 18th, their ninth hole, to drop back to even par, the Queenslander refused to yield.
Back-to-back birdies followed to wipe out the deficit and while he bogeyed the fourth he finished birdie-birdie to ensure he stayed level with McIlroy.
Robert Allenby was the next best Australian with a tidy 70 leaving him just three back while Adam Scott was left to rue a final hole double bogey to finish at even par 72.
Geoff Ogilvy also got around in 72, John Senden opened with a 73, Matt Jones shot 75, Steven Bowditch carded 77 and Aaron Baddeley struggled to a 78.
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