Returning Day reveals Aussie cravings, major goals
Murray Wenzel |
It’s been seven years since Jason Day set foot in Australia and 12 years since he’s felt this good.
Debilitating back troubles under control, the fit-again former world No.1 and father of five has finally carved a fleeting Brisbane visit into his schedule.
He’d love some Australian silverware in his cabinet, but Day is thinking bigger, targeting a second major triumph next year.
“The goal for me has always been trying to win all four (majors),” Day said on Wednesday ahead of the $2 million Australian PGA Championship from Thursday.
“I know I have the game.
“It’s just being able to be healthy … then (getting) the swing, technique back up.
“I know on my day I’m the best putter in the world.”
The 2015 PGA Championship winner has top-two finishes at all four majors, four top-10s on the tour this year and, back at No.31 in the world, will defend his Grant Thornton Invitational title with Lydia Ko next month.
Day will also play Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas before that, but is not sticking around for next week’s Australian Open in Victoria.
But it’s clear he’s missed the country, the Paris Olympian’s eyes rolling back as he recalled the two early-morning meat pies he scoffed after landing earlier this week.
Day, who revealed he is taking a break from swing coach Chris Como after a year of constant tinkering, said his back used to take three weeks to settle down and now only needs half a day to recover if he has an “episode”.
“This is the healthiest I’ve felt in probably 12 years,” the 37-year-old said.
The birth of his fifth child scuppered plans of a 2023 return Down Under, but more Australian cameos – with his family – are likely in the future.
“For sure, my family’s never been and I’d love to bring them down,” he said.
“It’s just so nice to be in Brisbane city … it has been a while.”
Day, three-time event winner and former world No.2 Cameron Smith and defending champion Min Woo Lee have been grouped in an all-star trio teeing off on Thursday morning.
“I haven’t played with Cammy competitively for a long time,” Day said of the LIV Golf star and former British Open champion.
“So I’m looking forward to that, and I just see so much potential in Min Woo.”
Rain has pounded Brisbane in the past week, with nearly 100mm falling on Saturday and steady showers soaking the riverside course on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The forecast is for more rain on Thursday before an improvement into the weekend.
“This golf course plays its best when it’s firm and fast, so it’ll present a bit of a different challenge,” Smith’s LIV Golf teammate Lucas Herbert said.
“I’m sure there’ll be some golf designers that’ll be scratching their heads wishing it wasn’t playing like it is.
“But it’ll be good to watch it play a little differently and see whether the guys have done their homework or not.”
AAP