“He just doesn’t have any weaknesses.”
“He” is Jason Day and that’s what Johnny Miller had to say about the reigning PGA Champion who added the Players Championship to his impressive resume on Sunday.
In his last 17 tournaments, he has seven wins, three already this season.
He is your world’s No. 1 and he is intent on putting a stranglehold on it. Then win widened his points margin over No. 2 Jordan Spieth by 2.47 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
“I’m very motivated to stay No. 1, to extend the lead, to win as much as I can,” was the message Day delivered.
Are you listening Jordan Spieth? How about you Rory McIlroy? You too Rickie Fowler, you think you want in on this?
Johnny Miller is right. When Jason Day brings out his “A” game, he can dismantle any course, crush virtually any field. He got this latest win and only had the “A” game for a couple of rounds. The rest of the way was B minus, but when you consider that Spieth and Fowler got sent home early and McIlroy is still trying to figure out how to make a putt, Day is looking more and more like the guy who can be up there for quite a while.
“My main goal is to try and win as much as I can right now,” said Day, who at age 28 might be considered somewhat of a late bloomer, considering that Spieth is 22 and McIlroy is 25.
Day says he’s found a winning formula. “Really trying to balance it out — finding the balance between competitive golf and family life.”
He appears to have found it, he’s also found a way to stay fit and physically healthy. “I was sick and tired of getting injured all the time,” said Day, who has fought an array of physical problems, including back issues. “I took control of how I work out and how I eat.” Day says he allows himself “three cheat meals” a week.
The one area he needs now, he recognizes. “I’d like to be more consistent.” That would spell really bad news for the rest.
Day is happy that he has earned the respect of Tiger Woods, who has given day encouragement and advice, albeit mostly through text messages. Unlike Woods, Day has an air of openness and honesty.
“I tell you how I feel, that’s just me. Be honest about the way I feel and the way I play the game, that’s just me,” Day says. “I just think if you’re honest with people that’s the most sincere you can be,” says Day, who has been an open book about his childhood and the problems he faced and overcame.
What the world has in Jason Day, is a large dose of talent and humility and honesty. He is the modern, prototype golfer of the present and future. He has incredible power, amazing finesse around the greens and putts the eyes out of it.
He is a champion’s champion, a player’s player and when he’s on, he can simply dominate.
Call it a message to the rest. But if you want to be really accurate about it, simply call it what it is — a friendly warning.
