DAY TRIP TO THE COAST REMAINS ON THE CARDS
WORLD golf’s No.3 Jason Day has given organisers hope of a PGA appearance on the Gold Coast after the star confirmed he is coming back to Australia later this year.
Ahead of the US Open, Beaudesert-raised Day dropped the news that he would return home to play either the Australian Open in Sydney or the PGA Championship on the Gold Coast.
Day has not played in Australia since 2013 but PGA boss Gavin Kirkman said he was hopeful the Royal Pines Resort tournament would be the superstar’s choice.
BEAUDESERT boy Jason Day is coming back to play in Australia this year although at this stage it will be in only one event.
Day, the US PGA champion in 2015, has confirmed he will be back Down Under in late November but is undecided whether he will tee off in the Australian Open at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney from November 2326 or the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast the following week.
With 2013 US Masters winner Adam Scott also a chance to be back on home soil for the two events, the chance of a double treat for local fans is appetising.
Australian PGA chief executive Gavin Kirkman said he had been told by
Day’s management that he would play in only one event but would love to have the Queenslander play in both the Open and the PGA.
“If his schedule allows it then yes, I would like to see Jason play in the two events and I think the Australian public would love that as well,” Kirkman said.
“He’s coming home to play, and that’s great, and we’d also like to have him attend the Greg Norman Medal dinner which is held during PGA Championship week at Royal Pines.”
Day last played an official event on the Gold Coast in 2005 in the Queensland PGA Championship at Emerald Lakes as a 16-year-old schoolboy amateur.
Day was beaten in an extended sudden-death playoff by Coolangatta-Tweed star Scott Gardiner.
Speaking ahead of the US Open in Wisconsin, which starts early tomorrow, the world No.3 spoke excitedly about travelling Down Under.
“I’m thinking about playing either the Australian Open or the PGA Championship,” he said. “I haven’t decided which event yet.”
Day has reason to be drawn to the Coast event. His mother Dening lives at Forest Lake in Brisbane.
“I was thinking about it recently; I can’t remember the last time I was in Queensland so it would be nice to be able to play the PGA Championship in my home state, close to where I have family,” the 29-year-old said.
Day’s Australian hiatus had been noticed by former world No.1 Greg Norman, who regularly played back home during his career.
“I think these guys (Scott and Day) are the greatest golfers out of Australia in their era but I’d like to see Jason go back and play a little bit more,” Norman said.
Day hasn’t played in his homeland since the 2013 World Cup in Melbourne.