Day puts focus on ranking
A BURNING desire to reclaim golf’s No.1 ranking meant Australian Jason Day didn’t stop to savour his drought-breaking victory at San Diego’s Torrey Pines last week.
The day after notching his first win in 20 months at the US PGA Tour event, Day returned to his temporary practice base at Palm Springs in the Californian desert to prepare for this week’s tournament at Pebble Beach.
The Australian says he hasn’t been this determined since before surrendering a 47week reign as world No.1 to Dustin Johnson last February.
“I was straight back into it,” said Day, 30.
“The win at Torrey Pines was great because it meant the hard work I put in during the off season is really paying off.
“I wanted to get off to a good start this year, and I did. But the only way to get back to No.1 is to win consistently and you can’t do that without putting in the hard work.”
Dropping to world No.14 before defeating Swede Alex Noren in a six-hole playoff at Torrey Pines eight days ago, Day has clawed back to No.10 in the rankings.
“It’s very tough up the top of the world rankings right now, with how Dustin and (world No.2) Jon Rahm are playing, as well as a number of other guys including Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas,” said Day.
“I’ve got a long way to go. But you’ve got to start somewhere and you’ve got to take little steps.”
Day is joined in this week’s Pebble Beach Pro Am field by fellow top 10 players Johnson, Rahm, Spieth and Rory McIlroy.
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