Jason Day with his winning trophy last year – image Getty Images / PGA Tour
In a press conference ahead of his defence of this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson Classic at the TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney in Texas, Jason Day has confirmed his availability to play for the Australian Olympic Team in Paris in July / August.
It will be the first occasion Day has played the Olympics as, in 2016 when golf made its return to the Olympic fold, he and wife Ellie were expecting a third child and the threat of the Zika virus was enough to discourage his involvement.
Marcus Fraser and Scott Hend represented Australia that year.
Then, in 2021 Day was not eligible due to a form slump and Australia was represented by Cam Smith and Marc Leishman.
“I think I — probably looking back on it, I wish I would’ve gone to Rio,” said Day today. “Had one of those spots and at the time we were having kids, and then obviously there was that scare, so I was kind of like a little bit freaked out about that.
“I wish I would’ve gone, but if I get the opportunity to go and represent the country, my country, Australia and get to go to Paris, that would be an absolute blast, an honor to do that.
“To be able to call yourself an Olympian would be even better. If I get the opportunity I’m 100% going.”
Day is clearly on track to gain one of the two male spots on the Australian team as he now stands in 22nd place in the world rankings and with Adam Scott recently declaring himself unavailable, it appears that Day and Min Woo Lee are the current Australians most likely. Lee is currently 32nd.
Cameron Smith ( 55th) will get opportunities in both the PGA Championship later this month and the US Open ahead of the final selection on June 17th, the day after the US Open, to advance his hopes of improving his world ranking ahead of Lee but he faces a big task if he is to do so.
Day won the CJ Cup last year by one shot over Si Woo Kim recording his first victory in five years and his form in 2024 suggests he could well contend again.
This week’s event or its former equivalent has been good to Day as it was this title that saw him win his first PGA Tour event in 2010.
Day lived in the Dallas Forth Worth area earlier in his time in the US and clearly enjoys playing in this region.
“I lived in the DFW area for a couple years,” said the 36 year old. “I’ve always enjoyed the people here. I grew up on, not like grass like this, but on bermudagrass, so you kind of get that a lot here.
“I didn’t grow up in too much wind, but what I’ve noticed I’ve had a lot of success here in Texas. From the Los Colinas Golf Course we play to this one as well. I always find it funny to think there is 13 years between my first and last win, which is like I always wonder where the time went.
“But it’s nice to be able to come back to a place that I’ve had success that I know and whether that’s here or Los Colinas or around Texas. I’ve always enjoyed playing in Texas.”
Day recalled just what his win last year did for his confidence after such a long winning drought.
“Golf is a funny game. Not only physically, but mentally as well. Especially where I’ve been, like I’ve been to the top of the mountain before and then to be where I was during that five-year span of like do I really want to push enough, kind of push through this and get through the pain of it all.
“But it was great to finally see all the work that I’ve been working on pay off. I remember talking to someone about this and I said like I keep projecting myself forward saying that I’m going to be talking about finally after so and so many years I finally got that win.
“It’s amazing how mentally tough this game can be. And I would always say to myself that if I can talk myself into a bad shot I can talk myself into a good shot. It’s human nature to feel down and guilty for yourself. I just kept on saying to myself, it’s only a short period of time. Even though five years is a long time in a career. It’s going to happen. Just keep working through it. Ultimately it happened here last year, which was fantastic.”
Day will be joined by fellow Australians, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott, Aaron Baddeley and Harrison Endycott in this week’s field along with New Zealander Ryan Fox.
