Jason Day ready to return to the top of the PGA TOUR
Jason Day brought home his second win of 2018 at the Wells Fargo Championship on Sunday. Here’s why the rest of the PGA TOUR’s top players should take notice.
Jason Day has been pretty open about the struggles he went through in the 2017 PGA TOUR season. Dealing with several family issues and the struggle of being “the guy” at No. 1 in the world, he admitted to feeling burned out. He endured his first winless season on Tour since 2012, and eventually fell out of the world top ten.
What a difference a year makes. In a season where Day has used a few different caddies – Luke Reardon, his primary caddie, has had issues with work visas – and made changes in the bag, Day is back on top. And a healthy, happy Jason Day is one to watch out for the rest of the year.
Things weren’t necessarily easy for Day this past week in Charlotte, even if he made it look that way at times. Even though he opened play Sunday with a two-shot lead, several players put pressure on until the end.
Nick Watney and Aaron Wise both had their chances to snare victory when Day slipped on Sunday. However, even as things got close down the stretch – Day made four bogeys on the day, including two on Nos. 13 and 14 – the Aussie found the ability to bounce back.
The final three holes at Quail Hollow, known as the “Green Mile”, have been some of the toughest scoring holes on the Tour slate. Just this past August, Day made quadruple bogey on 18 in the third round, taking him almost entirely out of contention at the PGA Championship. This year? With the victory on the line, Day made two birdies and a par to seal the deal.
Jason Day is better prepared for the pressure this time
Two years ago this week, Jason Day went wire-to-wire to win The PLAYERS Championship, and he cemented his place as the top golfer on the planet. When he fell off in 2017, it would have been easy for him to get angry or bitter at the hand he’d been dealt. How he chose to react, though, is a big part of what’s brought him back.
"“Last year was a good kick in the butt, not playing great and then seeing a lot of the other guys succeed,” Day said. “There was no jealousy there or envy. I know what it takes and feels like to win and be in that position, and it was more disappointing emotion that came over me last year saying that I feel I’ve got all this talent. For me to not work as hard as I should be and to be selfish in that mindset — well, I’m burned out, it’s OK to have an off year. That really bugged me.”More from Pro Golf NowGolf Rumors: LIV set to sign Masters Champion in stunning dealFantasy Golf: Grant Thornton Invitational DFS Player SelectionsBrutal return leaves Will Zalatoris looking towards 2024Stars You Know at World Champions Cup Starts Thursday at ConcessionFantasy Golf: An Early Look at the 2024 Masters Tournament"
Take a second and think about that. Jason Day is undoubtedly one of the most talented golfers of this generation. When he took beat after beat, personally and professionally, he didn’t let it fester. He recognized that he wasn’t living up to his own expectations, and he did something about it.
That work to get back on top is paying dividends in 2018. Day currently leads the PGA TOUR in strokes gained putting, and he’s fourth in adjusted scoring average. He’s hitting significantly more fairways than he has historically, and his game around the greens is as strong as ever. He’s not perfect, of course, but the gaps in his game are shrinking fast.
Moreover, he’s done this while managing a family life that includes a wife and two young kids. That’s a position many of today’s top players haven’t had to deal with, and a frequent topic of conversation between Day and Tiger Woods. The two are close friends, and Woods has been known to text Day with encouragement before big rounds.
Next: The PLAYERS Championship Power Rankings
Woods recently said that he’s happy to see Day ready to embrace everything it takes to be a top golfer in the world again. And with the Aussie star healthy again – mentally and physically – he’ll be out to remind everyone else on Tour of that fact. Don’t be surprised to see Day bring home a few more trophies before summer’s done.