Time off to get hunger back
JASON Day has urged himself to balance an insatiable work ethic next season after admitting burnout engulfed what was promising to be a stellar year.
The former world No.1 looked to be marching back towards golf’s top ranks when he kicked off 2018 with victories at the Farmers Insurance Open and Wells Fargo Championship.
But having registered just one top-10 since May, Day admitted the second half of the year left him disappointed as he finished the season-ending Tour Championship in 18th place at two under, nine shots back of winner Tiger Woods.
The 30-year-old Day was critical of his season despite also securing a runner-up at Pebble Beach among five top-10 results and 15 top-25s.
“I’m not walking away satisfied,” he said. “Yeah, I won twice but it was disappointing in the second half.
“It’s a good thing I have high expectations but now I can have some time off because it’s been a long season.”
Day will start his 2018/19 season with several events on the PGA Tour’s Asia swing in October.
“I need to take some time off and try get away from (golf) and get some hunger (to win) back,” Day said.
“I have to try not to push myself so hard next year; this season I kept telling myself I needed to work harder and that was a good formula for burning myself out.
“I’m not going to give myself big breaks because that’s not what winners do, but I need more balance.”
Day’s fellow Queenslander Cameron Smith finished the Tour Championship in 20th place with an even-par total.