MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 3, 2023

Jason Day

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We welcome Jason Day to the interview room. Tremendous start this year. You finished in the top 20 in each of the PGA TOUR events that you started and played in.

After not playing in the 2022 Masters, you come back to a place where you've had success finishing four times in the top 10. Please tell us about your journey back here to Augusta National.

JASON DAY: Yeah, it was disappointing to not be able to play last year's event, and this event has always been special to me and my family, and we've always enjoyed coming here and just playing.

I've always as a kid growing up, watching Tiger win and all the past Masters champions and watching them win, and being able to play here each and every year was a blessing, and then unfortunately I wasn't able to play last year.

Then, granted, a lot of things were going on in my life personally and physically. I wasn't in the greatest of shape, I guess you would say. And then to be able to be back here this year is very special, so I'm looking forward to a good week.

THE MODERATOR: Wonderful. Well, we're glad you're back.

Q. Can I ask how you did spend your Masters weekend last year?

JASON DAY: Watching golf, actually. It was obviously nice to be able to watch it, and I didn't watch too much of it, but I think it was more out of the sheer disappointment that I wasn't able to compete just because, you know, the last 11 years, I was playing at this tournament.

And then I think mentally I was more disappointed in myself not being able to compete here and play in the major, especially, because my World Ranking ballooned out so far. And it hurt my confidence a lot, not being able to play in the majors. And so have been trying to work my way back in the Top-50 and back up the World Rankings, as well, but to be able to play these events.

Q. Your peers are talking about how great your swing is and you're playing meticulous golf. Can you quantify where your swing is now and how you're confident it will hold up?

JASON DAY: It's good, but I would like it to be -- I would like to be able to go out there and play without any -- with a couple of swing thoughts. Right now, you know, I'm thinking about making sure that I have good hip tone on the way back, that I have -- if the right elbow flares out enough on top of the swing, that I have a little bit of a squat going into transition, the right arm goes down the right side of my body, I rotate, get my hands low and make sure I get my right wrist and get my right hand on top; and you've got to compete, as well.

So they are the things that I'm thinking about constantly on the range, and then I would say that if I can move it to the point where I could maybe have one or two swing thoughts, that would actually help a lot.

If you go and watch Rory on the range, or even play golf, even Tiger, these guys look like they are just free flowing everything. They can hit any shot. I'm kind of physically forced to have to think about this stuff out on the golf course because if I don't, then I go back into some bad habits, and that can potentially harm my back.

So I'm forced to be able to have to think about this stuff. I still -- I would say that, like, the majority of the major issues are taken care of. It's just the small little things, really minute, small things that you don't really see to the naked eye or people see to the naked eye.

But things are moving in the right direction. The strike and the flight, the trajectory, the spin, the way it comes out is starting to -- I'm starting to have a lot more control. The next step is being able to do everything and being able to shape shots. That would be next.

Q. So having all those thoughts going through your head, is that keeping you in the zone or holding you back from winning? You're obviously having great results.

JASON DAY: There's definitely times where it holds me back, just because through a tournament, you know, you might have a day where you fall back into some old pattern stuff and you have to constantly work yourself out of it.

When I was back in 2015, 2016, my swing wasn't as technically sound as it is now, but I kind of knew my tendencies, and I didn't really have a lot of swing thoughts. I just kind of aimed a little right and hit these poor draws. I kind of knew exactly where it was going.

I'm trying to gain a little more control on my swing and consistency. Through my career, I've always had a really good short game, putted really nicely and putted pretty decent, but the one thing that's held me back is my approach play.

And I think with the current changes that I'm working on, hopefully that improves the ranking there. And if I can kind of get back to my putting the way it was, you know, in 2015, 2016, that will definitely yield more wins for sure. I've just got to be patient with it.

Q. When you make the progress you've made to be trending the way you are, it's always a process. But I wonder, can you go back to a single starting point, turning point when you started getting better?

JASON DAY: I would say last fall. We were just mainly working on a lot of stuff because we --

Q. Who is "we"?

JASON DAY: Me and Chris and mainly the team, as well, my two trainers, Kevin and Tan. So the amount of background stuff that I have to do that not a lot of people see, there's a lot of work there.

But yeah, it's probably more along the fall where I started, like, gaining a little more confidence because I struggled with my putting for about two years, and I couldn't start the ball on line, couldn't -- I didn't have really good speed control. And when that happens and you're not hitting it that great, you're obviously struggling.

But then I would say the fall I played some good golf, and then we said okay -- because I was actually impatient with Chris, and I said, Look, I've got to make changes, because he's always talking about slow bringing stuff in. And I said, Look, I don't have a lot of time and I need to make these changes and I'm going to force them in there.

You know, it was over Christmas break when I started working on some of these newer moves and starting to take a little bit more hold. Obviously it's great to have the results that I've had this year, but I really had not put myself in position to win tournaments. So that would be the next step.

Q. When you look at the form that guys like Scottie and Jon Rahm and Rory are in right now, how far away does that feel to you right now from where you're at as -- as resurgent as things have been this year and -- and how close can you get to that?

JASON DAY: Oh, they are playing some good golf. Yeah, it's actually really exciting to see. I played against Scottie in the Match Play, and he's -- I mean, I tell you what, if that guy -- I mean, I know that he's a good, solid putter, but if he was top 10 in putting, he'd dominate for a good, long while. He's got a really good head on his shoulders.

Rory has been a very dominant force in the game of golf for a very long time, and Jon is such a solid player. His Top 10s to how many events he's played is unbelievable, the percentage.

So to get back to that, I think it feels like a long way, but I know it's not that far. It's hard to be patient, and I was just talking to Doug about it, it's hard to be patient because you see guys succeed and you know that you can do it. It's just really, really difficult to be patient.

But just small little things happen along the way, and things get gradually better and better, and then all of the sudden you're back there. Last year I was 175th in the world, and I'm back to 35 in the world, which is nice.

Q. If I can just, quick, follow on that. Because you've been there at the top, 2015, 2016, that stretch there, how much of an advantage is that to know that you can do that again because you've touched that level before?

JASON DAY: Yeah, it's exciting. I think I'm more excited by the journey and trying to get back there, and that's what I was so excited about.

When I got to No. 1 in the world, I thought I would feel a little bit different when I would wake up on Monday morning and see my name at No. 1 in the world, and didn't really change too much.

I think the thought process of working my way through it, and it comes from a different place this time around, whereas when I got to No. 1 in the world, it was sacrifice everything. It came from a very hard place. Sacrifice everything. Very, like, forget about how your body feels, just kind of just force it in there.

And this time around, I'm kind of learning more about how my body is working, what I need to do to keep myself healthy and trying to understand the swing itself, and really trying to learn more about the process of getting there.

I always say, with a little time, the first time that I got to No. 1 in the world, I didn't know how I got there. I know how I got there, but it was just through sheer great putting, hit it okay, but I just putted off the charts, and the mentality wasn't sustainable.

So this time around, I'm enjoying the journey and I'm learning each and every day, and I've actually got a lot of love and passion for it.

Q. With all these issues going on physically, have you been able to practice as much as you'd like?

JASON DAY: Yes. Actually probably a little bit too much. But, you know, yeah, I don't know, look, I think -- I looked at my phone the other day. I think I've got like 8,000 videos and probably 7,990 of them are Gosling's. It's constantly working. The great thing is, is that when I was injured, I could only putt 15 minutes at a time, and now if I wanted to, I could stretch out two hours, no problem. I'm just trying to be as smart as I possibly can.

Yeah, it's been a good learning -- learning experience going off when to listen to your body, which is the hard thing. Back in the day would I putt for 2 1/2 hours a day, and it would be sore, and my mentality was, no, you've just got to push through it because that's how it was. And that's just not the case. It got me to No. 1, but it wasn't sustainable.

Q. When you missed it last year, did it bring maybe a new appreciation or perspective of what this event is; and for someone who has played it so many times, how special is it to someone who has never played it before?

JASON DAY: It's definitely very special to be back here playing. It's my favorite tournament to play in for the year. It's great memories, from finishing second, my rookie Masters, to almost winning in 2013 when I had the lead with three holes to go.

I just thoroughly enjoy it, trying to understand the golf course, and it's a difficult one. But, you know, overall, it was disappointing that I didn't get to play in it last year, but I think it's that much better to have, you know, disappointment than a delayed gratification and being able to play in it this year.

Q. Can you describe your feelings and mindset on the first tee and how they might change from Thursday to Sunday?

JASON DAY: It all depends if I'm in contention. It's a little bit different when you're 50th on Saturday, Sunday, you're just kind of like, yeah, there's not a lot -- there's not as many nerves.

But yeah, when you're in contention, the "fore, please," is said, it goes dead quiet and you can't hear a thing, which is fantastic.

But yeah, the mindset changes. Right now everybody is enjoying themselves Monday through Wednesday, it's great, everybody has a great time. And you have the Par 3 on Wednesday, and then Thursday it happens and it gets a little bit more serious, and once it comes down to Saturday and Sunday it all changes.

The intensity, it just intensifies so much more from the start of the week to the end of the week. It's unique. But I'm glad that I've been here a few times to be able to understand it.

Q. When you told Chris this fall that you wanted to implement more changes because you don't have a lot of time, why not? What do you think your future looks like?

JASON DAY: What I think my future looks like?

Q. Why don't you have a lot of time?

JASON DAY: I'm 35, turn 36, I get older and the kids get younger. Every single year, there's a new batch of young players that are coming out and hitting it further and longer. It's interesting that -- sometimes I have laugh because I have to compete against them. They are tough.

But the good thing is that golf is not -- you have to understand that golf is not about -- it's not like football or basketball where your athleticism can create an extra step on your opponent. It doesn't matter. Yeah, you can lose a little bit of speed, but you can gain that back through training and all that stuff.

It's more about experience and short game and understanding how much pressure you can take when it comes to trying to win a tournament. That stuff's hard. I mean, it's difficult. No matter -- you can have guys hitting it 350 yards long, but you've still got to putt and chip and work your way around a golf course like a chess match.

If you don't have the mentality, you can be a great ball-striker on the range, but if you don't have the mentality to finish it and get it done, it means nothing.

That said, for the longest time I said I'll get to 40 and think about retiring. I feel like I can play to 50 now, which is great, and would be nice to get another 15 years out of my career and see what this second half of my career could unfold.

Obviously I got a little inspiration from Tom Brady, a guy that was an inspiration to a lot of people, but for him to be that old -- not saying that he's old, but for him to be at that young age of 45 and be competitive in the NFL, it's remarkable, to be honest, is a true testament to his ability.

And then obviously, the mental ability that he has, and I think in golf, it's even better if you keep yourself healthy and you can still hit it a decent length. You can be competitive for a long, long time.

Q. It's great to hear that you think you're not too far from the top guys, and then you spoke about some of the youngsters. I'm a great fan of the Asia-Pacific Amateurs, where the Australian youngsters have done well, and the event is going to be in Melbourne this year. What is it that Golf Australia seems to be doing right, and will you be in Melbourne when the event happens?

JASON DAY: Yeah, I played with Harrison Crowe today. I just feel like these guys are better prepared with the technology. Especially when I was growing up, I didn't have the technology that these kids have now.

But I think through just the accessibility of like social media and other forms of that, you're able to view professionals and hit golf shots on the range and seeing what they are doing, how they are good, and then obviously that actually helps with the coaching as well, and that coaching aspect as well.

Back in the day, when I was growing up, you couldn't FaceTime your coach. It was really nonexistent. We had, like, handheld camcorders that would take videos or cameras that would take videos. These days you can take a video on your phone and send it to your coach and jump on FaceTime.

Everything is just so much more efficient, and it goes along with the training as well. And plus the golf courses down in Australia are some of the best golf courses you've seen, especially down in Melbourne. That sets apart a lot of guys in the creative side of their game. And I think if you can grow up and have some finesse, but also have power, that yields a lot of success, and you're starting to see a lot of those young guys play really, really well because of that aspect.

Q. On that Australian theme, this is the ten-year anniversary of Adam winning the Masters. Looking back, how impactful was that win to you and your fellow Aussies?

JASON DAY: It would have been nice if I won (laughter). But no, it was nice to be able to see Scotty win. He was my favorite player growing up, outside of Tiger Woods. To watch Scotty play, I mean, we'd been close with Norman, and there's a few other guys in there that have been close to trying to win this tournament, and no one had ever won the Masters from Australia. I think that was a good thing because now I don't have to worry about it. Like, you know, no Australian has never won it. We can just go out and play now.

I can't believe it's gone that quick, for it to be ten years. I remember sitting in the clubhouse watching the playoff, and it just seems like yesterday I was sitting there watching the playoff. I remember saying to myself, man, I'm so disappointed that I wasn't able to either finish it or get in that playoff.

But it was like -- it was bittersweet because you're seeing Scotty play, and then you watch him hit that putt in, and then the emotions that came out of him were so raw and fantastic, and to be able to watch live on TV, it just makes you want to feel that as well.

I'm sure there's a lot of good memories for him coming back here every year. I can't believe it's been ten years.

Q. We were talking about top players and you mentioned Jon Rahm, Rory, Scottie Scheffler, so forth. We haven't seen so much of him because he's in LIV Golf now, but The Open champion, your countryman, Cam Smith, would you still put him in that category? I feel like we maybe forget how good he played last year?

JASON DAY: Cam Smith, he had a tremendous year, winning The Open Championship, winning THE PLAYERS. Definitely vaulted himself up to these guys, that status of playing tremendous -- he putted so well through that stretch as well. Did a lot of things right. Had a tremendous short game. Wedged it unbelievably well.

It's hard now because obviously with what we have with the two tours and just the slight divide, some guys over here and the majority of the guys on the TOUR, you don't get to see him week-in and week-out.

I haven't seen Cam Smith this week, but I'm looking forward to catching up with him. I saw a bunch of the other guys out on the range, and it's nice to see their faces again. I miss them a lot because a lot of those guys were my friends, and still are my friends. It's nice to see their faces again.

Q. Is it unusual for you to arrive at a tournament as early as this? For example, ten years ago, would you have turned up to play in time for a Monday morning? And secondly, can you identify, please, can you differentiate, please, the Monday to Wednesday here with Monday to Wednesday at any other tournament.

JASON DAY: Typically when I prepare for this week, before we had the Women's Amateur and the Drive, Chip & Putt, I would get here Friday and play nine holes Saturday, nine holes Sunday, 18 holes Monday, Tuesday, take Wednesday off and typically play the Par 3 Contest and have my family come out.

So it's a -- this is a week that I typically do it at, the U.S. Open, the PGA, the British Open, I typically don't do that, prepare as early as that.

And in regards to Monday through Wednesday, for the most part, you're playing Pro-Ams. You know, for the most part of the year, you string in some majors where you don't have to play Pro-Ams. So typically you're getting out Monday, Tuesday, playing nine holes, maybe. They have a Pro-Am on Monday so typically I'm working in the practice facility, play nine holes Tuesday, play 18 or nine holes on Wednesday.

This week you have free range to do whatever you want. I went out and played nine holes morning. Probably play nine holes tomorrow. Wednesday is a little bit more fun. But I get here -- I was talking to my coach. I said I've got to be cautious because the facilities so unreal that you feel like you could stay out there all day and work on stuff, and like you've just got to be really careful to not work too hard because then you pretty much -- you are kind of going on fumes by Thursday, so I'm trying to ease my way into it.

Q. I want to ask you about your journey, particularly from 2015, if you could reflect on perhaps how you have grown as a person outside of your golf. Because so many physical and emotional things have gone down during that time for you, and I empathize with that journey. Second part of that question, you're back at the Masters and love this tournament, obviously, but if I have to ask you to recollect three of your best memories from here, that would be the second part.

JASON DAY: Okay. The first question is a long one. 2015, 2016, you feel invincible, like it's never going to leave and you're going to be on top of the world for a long time, and all of a sudden you get injured, and that mountain can be very jagged if you fall down it.

But it's all in how I guess you treat people along the way. And the support you get along the way, as well, that's why you've got to be very, very careful with what you say, because if you say the wrong thing, you can offend some people, I guess, then a lot of people are looking like they are going to catch you but they are letting you fall because they want to see it. So you've got to be really careful in that regards.

And obviously going through personal stuff with my mom and having her pass away, and then, like I said, the injuries and trying to rebuild my golf swing; it's been an unbelievable learning experience, a very humbling experience to go from the No. 1 player in the world to 175 and then work my way back.

It's been a fun little journey. I've actually enjoyed it. Obviously not my mom passing away because I'd rather have her back. But to be able to go through this and try and, I guess, reinvent yourself is unique, and I've enjoyed that thoroughly.

Getting to the experiences of Augusta and my top three, I -- no, I think one of my top three is definitely when I was standing on 16 with the lead in 2013; and losing that lead was an experience, something more valuable than actually when I finished second in 2011 when I birdied the last two holes. I enjoyed that, but I learnt so much more from 2013 and losing that lead and going through that stress and the emotion, the emotional side of it was a far more valuable experience in my view, and being able to learn from that was huge for me.

Q. Now that you've rebuilt your game and your swing, do you feel like you could approach this golf course differently, and is there anything in that?

JASON DAY: I would say that if I have a good week with the swing and I'm able to control my trajectories and flights, then yes, 100 percent, just because I know that it's a second-shot golf course, and if you can -- if you're able to control your irons into the greens, it definitely makes things so much easier.

Like 11, for instance. If you can hit that green four times in a row, you're laughing, and you can play it even par; you miss it right, you're pretty much dead. I mean, you don't want to miss it left either.

I wouldn't say -- I would say that I'm a little bit shorter, so there's less -- I'm going to be less aggressive this year, just because I can't -- I hit a fade with my driver, so I'm not going to attack 13.

15 can be difficult. So I'm going to lay up there. The only ones that I'm probably going to attack is 2 and 8.

But yeah, no, I think the average score is 12-under here, something like that, so I just have to pick-and-choose my way around. You have to be very patient around this golf course. You can't force anything here.

Q. The way you hit the golf ball now, sort of left-to-right, I imagine, as opposed to right-to-left, the way you used to, are you more suited to Augusta, or are they two different things?

JASON DAY: You have to be able to work it both ways. I would say I hit it left-to-right with my driver mostly, and my irons I can work both ways, which is nice.

But yeah, we'll see how it goes. I'll talk to you Sunday, and I'll be able to tell if I did a good job or a bad job.

THE MODERATOR: Jason, thank you very much for your time today, and good luck the rest of the week.