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Given his youth and relative lack of experience on the PGA Tour, Jason Day is widely associated with a group of “young guns” that many believe are poised to become the future of professional golf. Listen to him talk, and take a look at his game of late, and one might actually have to put him at the head of the group when it comes to that distinction.
Fresh off a tied for second at the 2011 Masters, a performance that belied Day’s lack of experience both at Augusta National and major championships in general, the 23-year-old Australian seems on the verge of not just being one of the best young players on the PGA Tour, but one of the best players on it period. There is a new sense of maturity about Day, an approach to the game that has helped him better prepare for the challenges he faces on the course and better deal with the ups and downs that come with them.
Given his youth and relative lack of experience on the PGA Tour, Jason Day is widely associated with a group of “young guns” that many believe are poised to become the future of professional golf. Listen to him talk, and take a look at his game of late, and one might actually have to put him at the head of the group when it comes to that distinction.
Fresh off a tied for second at the 2011 Masters, a performance that belied Day’s lack of experience both at Augusta National and major championships in general, the 23-year-old Australian seems on the verge of not just being one of the best young players on the PGA Tour, but one of the best players on it period. There is a new sense of maturity about Day, an approach to the game that has helped him better prepare for the challenges he faces on the course and better deal with the ups and downs that come with them.
“I prepared (for The Masters) the best I could,” Day said on the eve of the first round of The Heritage, his first event since the strong performance at Augusta National. “I handled myself very well the last day and obviously the entire week.”
Playing in Sunday’s final pairing with Rory McIlroy, who entered Sunday with a four-shot lead only to shoot 8-over 80 and finish a distant 10 shots back, was certainly a learning experience for the young Aussie. Attempting to become the first Australian to ever win The Masters, Day overcame a slow start to finish with birdies on four of the final five holes, including birdies on the difficult par-4s 17 and 18. While the finish left him two shots shy of winner Charl Schwartzel, it was proof the long-hitting Day was quickly maturing in his fourth season on the PGA Tour.
“I knew that if I could just hang around on Sunday I would have a chance,” Day said. “To finish the way I did, I couldn’t have done any better.”
That realistic viewpoint to what must have been a disappointing finish speaks volumes of where Day is compared to his previous three years on tour. Sure, the enigmatic golfer claimed his first career victory at last year’s Byron Nelson Classic, yet he has had more near-misses than many other young players on tour this side of Dustin Johnson. A player that used to rely on power and natural talent is now preparing better both mentally and physically to win on tour.
More than he ever has before, Day is mapping and learning the golf courses he is preparing to play and for the first time in his career is carrying a yardage book himself rather than relying solely on his caddie for on-course intelligence. Given recent results, it’s an intelligent move. In addition to his second place at the Masters in his first-ever trip to Augusta National, the Australian has posted two other top 10s, a top 20 and has earned more than $1.1 million on Tour in less than four months of action.
“As the years go by, you get smarter with age,” Day said prior to playing in his third Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island.
Yes, Day is older, but at 23 years old, he is also a youngster. The difference, actually, may well rest with a recent decision to find a mental coach to complement the work on his game and physical shape. Following the Los Angeles Open and before the Tucson Open earlier this year, Day connected with mental coach Neale Smith, who suggested he needed to work on his course strategy and game preparation. If the early returns are any indication (ignoring a missed cut at the Shell Houston Open the week before The Masters) it’s a relationship Day would do well to maintain.
“I’ve been working on my swing for 16 years and on my body for 10 years. I just began working on the mental game after L.A and before Tucson,” Day said. “(Neil) thought I needed more structure out on the golf course.”
Given the demanding nature of Harbour Town Golf Links, a challenge that now lies ahead of Day, that structure will likely come in handy this week. Known more for his length than shotmaking, Day will have to shape shots and move his ball around the legendary Pete Dye course if he hopes to be in contention come Sunday afternoon. Given he’s played here twice before, and his new knack for game-planning rather than free-wheeling, it’s a good bet his name will be mentioned often during Heritage weekend.
“(Hitting it long) is pretty much out of the picture here,” Day said. “A lot of it is picking the shots you hit off the tee. I have a game plan that I am going to stick to.”
Given the unique nature of Harbour Town, that’s a good idea. Known for its tight, tree-lined fairways, sharp doglegs, small greens and unique bunkering, the layout favors golfers that can shape shots from the tees and fairways and boast a heady short game and a steady putter. While it’s certainly a unique course, it’s also one that Day became accustomed to while playing junior golf in Australia.
“It’s a great golf course,” Day said. “As the years go on and I play this course a lot more, you just learn to do things. Obviously, it does remind me of some of the golf courses back home.”
Provided Day maintains the confidence he left August with and combines it with his new approach to the game and comfort on Harbour Town, this weekend could well be another breakthrough for the Aussie. However it turns out, one thing is for sure, Day is confident with his current form, one that can no longer be called that of an up and comer. Rather, he has most certainly arrived.
