Family man Day relaxed ahead of PGA Tour title defence

Jason Day is embracing a page from Scottie Scheffler’s playbook as he gears up to defend his PGA Tour title at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas. Returning to TPC Craig Ranch, where he clinched his first PGA Tour victory in 2010 and ended a drought with a win last year, Day expresses his enthusiasm for defending a title after nearly six years.

“It’s been a while, but I think the game is shaping up for a good summer. It will be interesting,” Day shared with AAP, emphasizing a shift in priorities. “Family comes first, golf, then health. As long as family comes first, that’s all that matters.”

Day admires Scheffler’s approach, noting the devout Christian’s stress-free mindset and belief in playing for a higher purpose, which has translated into impressive results. Scheffler’s recent achievements include four wins and a second place finish in his last five events, including historic victories at the Players Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players, and Masters titles in the same year.

“Looking at Scottie Scheffler right now, he is playing some of the best golf we’ve seen in a long time, probably since the Tiger days,” Day remarked, highlighting Scheffler’s balance on and off the course as a significant factor in his success.

Reflecting on his own journey, Day acknowledges the importance of finding balance between professional and personal life, recognizing that motivation can come from different sources. Despite having spent 17 years on the tour and once sitting atop the rankings for 51 weeks, Day believes in continuous learning and evolution as a golfer.

While Day concedes he may have played for the wrong reasons in the past, he now focuses on his love for the game and a passion for hard work, hoping to achieve more significant results in the future. A win at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson could solidify his spot on the Australian Olympics team for the Paris Games in August, a prospect Day eagerly anticipates.

“I wish I would have gone,” Day reflects on missing the Rio Olympics in 2016 due to concerns over the Zika virus. “But if I get the opportunity to go and represent the country, Australia, and get to go to Paris, that would be an absolute blast, an honor to do that.”

With fellow Australians Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, Aaron Baddeley, and Harrison Endycott also competing in the tournament, Day looks forward to the challenge ahead and the possibility of adding another milestone to his illustrious career.