Jason Day feels he is building momentum after grabbing the lead at the US PGA Championship on Thursday.
The Australian carded a five-under 65 at TPC Harding Park to hold a one-stroke lead on what was a congested leaderboard during the first round.
Despite being winless since 2018, Day has four top-10 finishes this year, including three in a row leading into the first major of 2020.
Day, the 2015 US PGA champion, said he felt his form building heading to San Francisco.
"There was definitely a lot of momentum coming in off the previous finishes that I've had, three top-10s, which has been nice," he said.
"The game feels like it's coming around. I'm pleased with it.
"I shouldn't say I'm not excited. I am excited to come out and play every day, but I know that I can improve, and mainly my putting can improve a little bit more.
"I feel like I've been working very hard in the off weeks and especially when I come to a tournament to be able to get my putting back to where it is because it's always been a strength of mine, and I feel like the game is slowly coming around, the confidence is coming around because I'm starting to see the results, which has been good."
Clubhouse leader, Jason Day's 65 is his lowest career opening round in a major championship.#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/HB1ldI6buT
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) August 6, 2020
The colder weather in San Francisco was talked about heading into the major and Day has dealt with back injuries in the past.
The 32-year-old admitted he was more cautious in the cooler weather to protect his back.
"It's still pretty cool. It was nice to be able to have the sun for a change. It's been kind of overcast and grey here," Day said.
"But it has been cool – you've got to be careful. It is a lot colder; 50 degrees pretty much to be precise from last week. It was nice to play in the hot weather last week and then this week you're always cautious of doing certain things, bending over.
"But I pretty much lather up in Deep Heat and I try and burn the skin off my back, to be honest. And I feel pretty good, so I've been fine."