Arnold Palmer Invitational Power Rankings: Top ten at Bay Hill

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 18: A general view of the 18th green during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By MasterCard at Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 18, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 18: A general view of the 18th green during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By MasterCard at Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 18, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 20: Jason Day of Australia poses with the trophy following the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard at Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 20, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /

There were times in 2017 where I straight up forgot about Jason Day. I’m sure others could agree given how many stars seem to be emerging by the week.

In fairness, health scares with his mother and continued injury woes of his own were tough to combat in a sport where the margin’s so razor thin. It was his first winless season since 2012, but he still gritted out six top-10s in 2017.

The talent never left. Now that his focus appears to be restrengthening, he’s showing he’s still very much a threat for more majors.

"“Every mindset that I should be taking into every tournament is like this could be my last tournament, because I don’t know what’s happening around the corner; my back could be gone and I may not be able to pick up a golf club again,” Day said in a story by Golfweek’s Brentley Romine. “… If I don’t put in 100 percent now and try and win every single tournament, then I’m not going to be able to do that. I think that’s the champion mentality that you need to take in because, yeah, great, it’s good to finish second place, but I don’t think champions think like that.”"

The Aussie revitalized himself by winning the Farmers Insurance Open and backed it up with a T2 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Equipped with a few weeks off, Day is back to a site of past success in Bay Hill.

Day is the 2016 API champion and has three more top-25s on his resume. His ballstriking is a huge advantage here, and based on recent form, he’s got a good shot at winning for the second time at this event.

Next: Could Tiger and Phil meet again at the Masters?