A REMINDER that his form of late has not been at the same superlative levels of last year was presented to Jason Day in glass and crystal form yesterday. It was the Mark McCormack Award, given to the player who spent most weeks at number one in the world rankings. In 2016, Day was top of the tree for 41 weeks.
So far, 2017 has not been so kind. Day has tumbled from first to sixth in the list of the world’s leading players and enters the Open championship at Royal Birkdale on the back of two missed cuts. Even his arrival into the UK ran into bother, the Australian held up by the presence of Air Force One on the runway in New York.
“I was supposed to come in on Sunday,” he revealed. “But I was flying through JFK and President Trump was there and there was a bunch of delays. So I just decided to move my flight back a little bit later. President Obama also held me up one time flying out of Palm Springs. So I understand. It is what it is.”
Day was remarkably candid both about his indifferent form and on his prospects of adding a second major title to his triumph at the 2015 USPGA.
“In 2015 and 2016 I hit it long and straight,” he recalled. “I hit my iron shots a lot closer and I holed everything on the greens. And this year it's not as long, and it's not as straight. My iron shots aren't as close, and I'm not holing as many putts. So it's a perfect formula for not having a good year.
“But you always have to believe in yourself. It's easier said than done. It's like anything, you can say that you want to win, but if you don't truly believe in it, it's not really going to happen. But I always love coming over here. I actually get excited every time I come over here. I'm looking forward to trying to get back into the winner's circle this year, and hopefully I can do that this week.”
Day is one of the most notoriously slow players in the game but he has no qualms about being told to hurry it along again this week.
“I've been put on the clock already this year so it doesn't really worry me too much,” he shrugged. “I guess I've got to try and you've got to respect the other players, as well, out there. Last year I was put on the clock once, and I think this year maybe once or twice.
“The only reason why I think a lot of people think I'm slow is that, when I was playing well, I was in a lot of groups on Sundays in the last few groups and usually everyone takes their time on the last few groups on Sunday. If I'm 70th, I'm not taking much time. I'm kind of racing around the golf course then.
Obviously it all depends on what position you're at. But I still definitely will take my time. I need to make sure that I'm hitting the correct shots. I think at the end of my career no one is going to go, he was a great golfer, but he was slow. To be honest, I don't really care what people say. I need to do what I need to do to win a golf tournament. And within reason of respecting other players and the Rules of Golf.
“When someone gets put on the clock, we need to pick up the pace of play, and everyone understands that. And I'll do my best to make sure that I try to not get put on the clock.”
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