Jason Day is in high spirits as he joins fellow countrymen Cameron Smith and defending champion Mee Woo Lee at the Australian PGA Championship this week. Day stated that his recent resurgence has ignited a fire within him to pursue a second Major in 2025, a decade after he broke through at the PGA Championship.
Major Man
Back in 2015, Day was the man; not only did he secure his first Major at Whistling Straits, but he also won four additional PGA TOUR titles and topped the Official World Ranking. His form continued the following season when he won at Bay Hill, then dominated Louis Oosthuizen in the WGC – World Match Play, before clinching The Players Championship, regarded as golf’s ‘fifth’ Major.
Challenging Times
In 2017, Day’s magical form began to fade, and he went the entire season without a win. Matters worsened when he split from his long-standing caddie and close friend, Colin Swatton. Despite two victories on the PGA TOUR in 2018 and moving back into the top 10 in the rankings, Day’s long-standing back issues began to affect his game.
The golfing world had written him off, but the 37-year-old enjoyed a resurgence in 2023, fueled by swing changes designed to relieve pressure on his lower back. Day won his 13th PGA Tour title and tied for second at last year’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
The Return
He has posted four top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this year and shared his thoughts at Royal Queensland in Brisbane ahead of the Australian PGA Championship with Fox Sports. “I feel good about my game. A goal for 2025 is to try and win a Major, and another goal is to win an elevated PGA Tour event. The goal for me has always been to try to win all four Majors. I know I definitely have the game to win majors,” he said.
This is Day’s first appearance in his homeland since 2017, but attention will also be on another Australian in the group, Cameron Smith, who is still seeking his first win of the year.
