Sir Nick Faldo doesn’t beat about the bush when giving his opinion on modern-day golfers.
Jason Day was the target of Nick Faldo‘s criticism way back in 2017 during the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
Faldo has shared plenty of no-nonsense verdicts on numerous current-day stars, and that’s what made him so popular with the majority of golf fans.
The Englishman was so good in his prime, with 43 worldwide victories to his name, including six major championships.
Give us your most controversial opinion on a famous golf course
Do you think Augusta National or St Andrews are overrated? Are you secretly a fan of the venues LIV visit?
When players didn’t meet his standards during highly pressurized situations, he let them know about it in no uncertain terms.
And that was exactly what happened when Day made a big mistake during the PGA Championship eight years ago.
Nick Faldo admitted Jason Day made ‘the worst decision’ he’d ever seen
Justin Thomas won the PGA at Quail Hollow in 2017, but things could have been very different indeed if it wasn’t for Day’s disastrous 18th hole in his third round.
Day’s drive found the right rough and he was stymied behind a tree. However, Day attempted the impossible and took on the green only to find the bushes even further right of where he was.
After a penalty drop and a cruel lip out once he finally found the green, Day ended up making a quadruple bogey eight on the final hole at Quail Hollow and posted a third round 77.
That put him back at even-par for the championship when a bogey on the 18th hole on day three would have left him just four adrift of the lead heading into the final round.
“You are kidding me? (It’s) one of the craziest decisions I’ve ever seen,“ said Faldo.
“I’d love to know what he thought he could really do with that second shot.
“It should be a (bogey) five. That’s what you’re meant to think. Then you’re four back … maybe three.
“The worst decision I’ve seen a professional golfer make.”
Faldo is spot on with what he said there. Day’s decision to try and pull off the hero shot was ridiculously naive, especially considering how experienced he was at the time.
Had he chosen the sensible option and chipped out sideways, Day may well be a two-time major champion now.
The winners of the four majors in 2026 will be…
Let us know who you are backing to triumph in next year's biggest events
That said, if Day had been offered 13 PGA Tour wins including one major championship when he turned pro, he undoubtedly would have taken it.
Jason Day’s major championship career in numbers
Despite Faldo’s criticism of Day way back in 2017, the Australian has still enjoyed a stellar career in the game.
He has 13 PGA Tour wins to his name but he will feel like he should have more major titles under his belt.
Here are the 38-year-old’s career results at the four biggest tournaments in the professional game:
| Achievements | Day’s totals |
| Majors played | 56 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Runner-up | 5 |
| Top-5s | 11 |
| Top-10s | 18 |
| Cuts made | 42 |
Day has been incredibly consistent throughout his time in the game.
If it wasn’t for some seriously bad luck with injuries, the Australian may well have already compiled a hall of fame career.
Who knows, though, he still might go on to achieve just that.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
