Jason Day coming on strong for No. 1 ranking
Aussie could join McIlroy, Spieth with another FedEx Cup win
EDISON, N.J. — Jordan Spieth was gone, but not forgotten, certainly not by Jason Day.
In his debut as the No. 1 player in the world, Spieth had back-to-back rounds over par for the first time all year and missed the cut.
He already was assured of losing the No. 1 ranking back to Rory McIlroy when Day put together a weekend at The Barclays that was even better put into recent context.
He shot 63-62 on the weekend — the 62 was the lowest closing round by a PGA Tour winner all year — and finished at 19-under 261 for a six-shot win over Henrik Stenson. This was Day’s first tournament since he became the first player in a major to reach 20-under par in beating Spieth by three shots at the PGA Championship.
Throw in the Canadian Open and Day has won three of his last four tournaments.
So it seemed to be a natural question who would get his vote as PGA Tour player of the year, which until last week was not really a question at all. And it still isn’t to Day — not yet, anyway.
“Right now, Jordan Spieth gets my vote,” Day said. “Winning two major championships at such a young age is big. Winning four tournaments overall is great.”
There are still three FedEx Cup playoff events remaining, including the Tour Championship that determines the $10-million bonus. It’s already been a banner summer for the 27-year-old Australian, and he’s not done yet.
“I think winning the FedEx Cup and maybe one or two more tournaments, that could put my name in the mix for player of the year,” Day said.
Spieth already has locked up the points-based award from the PGA of America due to a bonus awarded to multiple major champions — not something to take lightly.
The 22-year-old Texan is only the 19th player in 120 years to do that. As only the fourth player to get halfway to the Grand Slam, he handled the pressure by finishing one shot out of a playoff at St. Andrews. And with a runnerup at the PGA Championship, Spieth joined Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to finish in the top four at all four majors.
He also was runner-up three other times (Houston Open, Texas Open, Colonial), still is nearly $3 million ahead of Day on the money list and is leading the Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted scoring average on the PGA Tour.
That’s why Day was quick not to dismiss Spieth. If he were to win the Tour Championship, that makes it much more interesting. The Tour Championship and one other FedEx Cup playoff event would be six wins, which moves the vote closer.
“I’m by far playing the best golf of my life,” Day said. “Just the synergy between my golf swing right now and what I’ve done with my body is working. I’m hitting it a long, long way. I feel like the accuracy has pulled in. ... I feel like Jordan Spieth with how I’m putting. It’s a good feeling.”