One high-profile player sitting there in his hotel room while the rains fall at Mayakoba is Jason Day.
Remember him?
He was once No. 1 in the world, briefly. He won the 2015 PGA Championship and was supposed to be one of the next superstars in golf.
Today, at age 31, he’s struggling to become that guy again. Really struggling. He hasn’t won since May of 2018. He went winless this past season on the PGA Tour.
Last June he made a move that had the talking heads at the Golf Channel falling all over themselves, declaring it the right move, the move that would bring Day back from the Land Of The Lost Golfers.
Day hired high-profile caddie Steve Williams, basically talked him out of retirement.
Sure, a great caddie can be an asset for a player but keep in mind, caddies don’t hit a single shot.
Williams picked up Day’s back last June and the partnership lasted a whopping six events starting at the U.S. Open. With Williams on the bag, Day had just one top 10 and missed two cuts. After his missed cut at the Northern Trust, Williams had seen enough and headed back home to Australia to enjoy the good life.
Again, caddies can help but they aren’t miracle workers and Day needed something miraculous.
Early 2018 was okay. He tied for fifth at The Masters, tied for fifth at the Farmers, tied for eighth at The Players. He had enough top 10s to make the playoffs but he only made it to the BMW.
His position in the world rankings has fallen steadily. He’s down to No. 29 and falling.
He tied for 31st at the C.J. Cup, tied for 22nd at the ZOZO. Day did manage to win that rinky-dink Japan Skins game — but anyone can muster up one good round. Day has had trouble putting four together.
Earlier this week down in Mayakoba, he gave us this head-turning statement:
“Getting back to No. 1 is my biggest motivation.”
Seriously?
Day’s first problem is his fragile body. Seems like he’s always got some sort of ailment, typically it’s his back and that’s no surprise. Day has no half-speed swing in his game. It’s all out, full-throttle, balls-to-the-wall with every swing and therein lies part of his problem.
Tiger Woods has been able to adjust his swing to take some pressure off his back and that’s working quite well for Eldrick.
Then add the fact that Day has been on the caddie merry-go-round. His most effective days came when he had his friend and instructor Colin Swatton on the bag. Swatton was a steady presence in Day’s life on and off the course but after he relieved Swatton of the caddie duties, Day’s decline began.
Which brings us back to this ridiculous “return to No. 1” that Day threw out there this week.
Day needs to totally re-think what he’s doing with himself.
He’s had a cast of caddies this year— a total of four in his 21 starts — along with those always-present injuries.
His latest caddie and man this week is David Lutterus.
“When you go through changes like that, trying to find the right makeup, the right chemistry, it takes some time,” Day said of his revolving door for caddies. “But I feel like with what I’m doing with David out there, I think we’re slowly working on the communication and things are working and they’re coming around.”
Note to Jason:
You might want to find a way to stay healthy and make more birdies.
4 Comments
baxter cepeda
The Steve Williams plan has to stop. The problem is Williams. I get the man has done more than any other caddie, but there lies the problem. Williams is too big —especially in his own mind — to do such a humble job anymore. He has no commitment left to be a caddie, to work past the tough times. Caddies usually have to prove themselves to players, Not the other way around.
Jason is fine.
Like I said when he won the PGA, it would likely be a peak which will be tough for him to beat, and it has been.
Jason can still put together much more than one day. Day still gives himself chances in the biggest events and will again. Like his boy Tiger, his long runs of success are probably a thing of the past.
But that’s ok. He is still one of the best internationals.
I have heard it a bunch but disagree he is full bore all the time. He has toned it down, possibly part of the problem. His short game is sublime, but also falls flat in some key moments.
Regardless, no doubt in my mind as soon as we turn our attention fully away, his next Day will come.
Tom Edrington
I’d say after rounds of 70-77 at Mayakoba, Jason Day has a long, long road in front of him and I’m not sure he’s up to it physically…..or mentally
baxter cepeda
Day will probably be ready to be competitive for the Masters. A lot of Guys put in some fall events but it doesn’t mean they are game ready.
Tom Edrington
Day is so very past his prime…..