Underdog status can help International Team, says Day

Jason Day believes the International Team can use their status as massive underdogs to their advantage as they look to improve a miserable record in the Presidents Cup.

The United States have won nine of the 11 biennial contests to date and the last six in succession following a tie in 2003, with the International Team’s only success coming in Australia in 1998.

With a team containing the likes of FedEx Cup champion Justin Thomas, world No 1 Dustin Johnson, Open champion Jordan Spieth and US Open winner Brooks Koepka, it is no surprise that the home side are prohibitive favourites to retain the trophy at Liberty National in New Jersey.

“On paper, we are not the best team, the Americans are,” Day admitted in a pre-event press conference.

“I don’t know what the last guy is in the world ranking on the American side but they are very accomplished.

“I don’t think we’ve got a lot of pressure because I think a lot of people are kind of writing us off already and we’re all solid players. On our weeks, we can beat anyone and that goes throughout the whole team here.

“I think if we can get off to a great start with the alternate-shot (foursomes). I think we’ve got a really good shot at winning.”

Day was ranked second in the world at the 2015 contest in South Korea, coming off a year which featured five victories, including his first major title in the US PGA Championship.

However, the 29-year-old Australian won just half a point from his five matches as the United States won by a single point after Bill Haas defeated Sangmoon Bae in the final singles.

“I let the team down two years ago in Korea,” Day admitted. “I didn’t have a good Presidents Cup and it was close. If I actually played well, we probably would have had a good shot at winning.

“Unfortunately, I take the blame for that. I didn’t play good. I was ranked number one on the team for a reason and I didn’t show up.”

Jason Day hopes to make amends for his 2015 display.