Aussie Open gives Day valuable edge
JASON Day says playing in front of family at December’s Australian Open could provide a much-needed lift as he joins countrymen Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith as headliners.
Former world No.1 Day, Leishman and Smith will tee up at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney before the Presidents Cup in Melbourne, while Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama has signalled his intention to join his International teammates on December 5-8.
It is not yet known whether Australian superstar Adam Scott will contest the Open, although Golf Australia chief executive Stephen Pitt is hopeful of convincing the 2009 winner.
The Presidents Cup will be held at Royal Melbourne the week after the Open, when the International team faces off against a Tiger Woods-led American side.
Leishman, Smith, Scott and Matsuyama were among the eight automatic qualifiers for Ernie Els’ International team.
World No.23 Day missed out on qualifying although he is all but assured of a captain’s pick from South African great Els.
Day has struggled on the US PGA Tour this year, sliding out of the top 20 on the world rankings for the first time since mid 2013.
But he is hoping the Australian Open provides a similar boost as it did when he last contested the Stonehaven Cup in 2017.
“There is something about playing our national open that gives me a lift,” Day said.
“The Australian Open means a lot to me and I really want that Stonehaven Cup in my trophy cabinet.”
Based in Ohio and with three children, Day has found it difficult in recent years to return home for the most prestigious event on Australian golf calendar – not least because the Open often clashes with Thanksgiving Day in the US.
But the 31-year-old relishes the chance to play in front of family, particularly with his Queensland-based mother Dening dealing with lung cancer since 2017.
“My family will get to watch back home. I’m looking forward to coming back home to Australia,” Day said.
Pitt is confident “around nine of the (12) International team” will be at The Australian GC.