Charley Hoffman called it a “loaded question.” Jason Day attempted to be forthright while dancing gingerly with his words. “I'm trying to tread lightly,” he said, “because I don't want to step on anyone's toes.

Harris English first flirted with fame at the Farmers Insurance Open a decade ago when he shared the third-round lead and was part of a four-man playoff for the 2015 championship. Jason Day came away the winner that year at Torrey Pines, but English was encouraged, not discouraged.