Expectation a heavy bag to carry for Australian

JASON Day has said he burdened himself with expectation of reclaiming winning form by hiring Tiger Woods’ former caddie Steve Williams.

But former world No.1 Day (pictured) has hit the rest button and hopes his realisation leads to a fruitful run through the US PGA Tour’s playoffs series — starting with this week’s Northern Trust event in New Jersey.

He hired New Zealander Williams — who caddied for Woods in 13 of his 15 major wins as well as Adam Scott’s 2013 Masters victory — at June’s US Open at Pebble Beach but has had little success.

In their five events together, the Queenslander has only one top-10 result while he missed the cut at the British Open.

Having once held the No.1 position for 47 weeks, world No.21 Day is no longer Australia’s top-ranked golfer, with Scott one spot higher.

He concedes he set the bar too high after what was a serious change for an elite golfer.

“I may have put a bit too much pressure on myself with regards to trying to play too well,” an honest Day said at Liberty National.

“Having a new caddie on the bag is a change and I’m trying to work everything out.

“I just haven’t pieced everything together at an event and I need to get on top of that.”

But the 31-year-old said there were positives in his partnership with Williams, most importantly that his work ethic had increased dramatically.

“You want it to be successful and it is in the sense I wanted to work harder and Steve is certainly making me do that,” Day said.