All-time ranking: Who moved up in 2020?
By Bill Felber
Jason Day, -11.24
Until his Friday clunker of a 78 cost him a chance to play Masters weekend, Day was on course for a decent, if not memorable, 2020 Majors season. He tied for fourth at the PGA and for 38th at the Open. A top 10 at Augusta, a possibility had he played well that fatal Friday, would have given him two top 10s in Majors for the first time since 2016.
As it is, Day lost ground on the all-time ranking. Opening the year in a tie for 49th position, his -12.53 dominance rating was damaged to the tune of 1.29 points, leaving him at -11.24 as this is written.
He now ranks 56th all-time, having fallen behind seven players. They are Reg Whitcombe, Willie Park Sr., John McDermott, Arnaud Massy, Billy Casper, Rory McIlroy and Al Espinosa.
Another such season would cost Day just two more places on the all-time list, dropping him into 58th below Christy O’Connor and Harry Hampton.
Day is on a disturbing trend. His all-time ranking peaked in 2016 at -16.88 – that was good for 37th all time – and has steadily declined since then. More troublesome, Day has missed the cut in one Major each of the last four seasons. It’s hard to win when your clubs are bagged.