Jason Day's wife sends emotional note

What looked, from the outside, like another innocuous Wednesday at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play Championship turned into a heart-wrenching one for all involved. Jason Day, the defending champion, walked off the course after six holes in his first round match against Pat Perez, revealing afterwards that his mother was battling lung cancer and was scheduled to undergo surgery on Friday.

Via USA Today's Steve DiMeglio:

"So I just need some time away with her to make sure that everything goes well because this has been very, very tough for me. So I'm going to do my best and try and be there the best I can for her because she is the reason that I'm playing golf today. … I'm hoping for a speedy recovery for her, and we can get this behind us and she can live a long, long life."

Day was 12 when his father died of stomach cancer.

"It's been very, very emotional, as you can tell. I've already gone through it once with my dad. And I know how it feels," Day said. "And it's hard enough to see another one go through it, as well."

A clip from his post round press conference.

The latest update we have on the situation came courtesy of Jason Day's wife, Ellie. Writing on Instagram after the round, "thanks for loving us and lifting us up. Now that it's 'out my dear husband and mama D could use all the extra prayers."