Jason Day’s performances at The Open Championship in the last two years have perhaps gone a little under the radar, with the Australian one of just three players to have finished in the top 15 at both Hoylake and Royal Troon.
It has been another interesting year for Jason Day, with the former world number one awaiting a first PGA Tour victory since 2023. He is inside the top 30 in the world rankings, while he finished tied for eighth at The Masters.
But he is still searching for the form which took him to the summit of golfing world in 2015.
Day may not be a favourite for this week’s Open Championship in the eyes of many. He missed the cut twice in three years from 2019 – the last time The Open was held at Royal Portrush – while he was not even in the field in 2022.
Jason Day reacts to what happened in a practice round at Royal Portrush
But he has looked to give himself the best chance possible by travelling to Northern Ireland several days early to get some practice in.
Day was one of those who opted not to play in the Genesis Scottish Open. And speaking on Golf Channel, the 37-year-old explained what he has noticed about Royal Portrush during his first few practice sessions.
“You get what you get out here, and what I mean by that is what you’re seeing, there’s no tricks really to the golf course, there’s no funky bounces really. You’re going to get some funky bounces but it’s not like when you’re playing some other Open Championship style golf courses, you can get some really funky bounces and they all end up in the bunker. I think it’s a really nice, fair test. They haven’t done a lot to obviously the golf course, they don’t do that at most Open Championships,” he said.
“I feel that getting in early, preparing, feeling what I need to do, I mean, I haven’t seen a ball bounce 20-plus on a lob wedge in a long time, so that’s something I have to get used to pretty quick, especially being out here and obviously, the style of golf is completely different to the style that we play in America. So it was important for me to come out today and Sunday to play some holes.”
How Jason Day has performed in The Open Championship during his career
Like many players, Day seemed to have more problems in The Open Championship than any other major during the early stages of his career.
He has at least five top 10s at each of the other three majors, but only two at The Open.
In fairness to Day, he made the cut eight times on British shores before not making the weekend in 2019. But he has rarely found himself in contention.
Obviously, many will remember the 2023 event as the one which saw Brian Harman run away with the title. But Day can take plenty of positives from his second place finish at Royal Liverpool.
The fact that he was only one shot off the top 10 at Royal Troon the following year is also an extremely positive sign.
But clearly, getting to grips with links golf after nearly 12 months is far from a simple task.
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