Day relishing KO format as Augusta calls
DEFENDING champion Jason Day hopes head-to-head combat at this week’s World Golf Championship Match Play in Texas fires him up for the Masters.
The 29-year-old Australian has started the 2017 US PGA Tour season behind the eight ball after spending the last three months of 2016 sidelined with a lower back injury. Day has lost the world No.1 ranking he held for 47 consecutive weeks to Dustin Johnson, due to lacklustre results, with his best a tie for fifth at Pebble Beach in February.
With only one player progressing from each group of four to Saturday’s round of 16 at Austin Country Club, world No.3 Day hopes the tournament’s cutthroat format will sharpen his game ahead of the Masters starting April 6.
“I think it will get (me) prepared and ready to get back into the competitive juices again like you’re in contention; it feels like it’s a Sunday every single day and that helps going into Augusta,” said Day.
Day drew compatriot Marc Leishman, who he will battle tomorrow, Brit Lee Westwood and American Pat Perez.