MEN'S OLYMPIC GOLF COMPETITION

August 1, 2024

Jason Day

Le Golf National

Australia

Quick Quotes

JASON DAY: 18 sucked a little bit. Two just uncommitted swings, the wedge shot and the tee shot. Tidy that up and get to work on the range this afternoon.

Q. Did you feel any extra emotion out there?

JASON DAY: I was just saying a little bit earlier that this is probably the most nervous I've been wearing a set of clothes that you look down and see the colours. The first couple holes caught me off-guard actually quite a lot. I was quite nervous standing over the first tee shot and then it took me a few holes to get over it.

It's amazing, we're not playing for money this week obviously. We are playing for a medal and you're here for kind of playing for free. But my point is, is that like it feels totally different. This is the most I've felt nervous standing on a tee box wearing a set of clothes that I'm wearing for the first time.

It's a good feeling because it just shows that it means a lot to me, which is good. So I'm happy about it.

Q. What did you expect crowd-wise?

JASON DAY: Not that. Definitely not that. I heard the crowd when I was on the putting green, screaming over there, and you go down the stairs, going from 1 to 2 to 3, it was impressive. It's amazing how this week, this last week and a bit, it's impressive to see how much sport brings a lot of people together.

There's all different types of countries out there cheering their favourite players.

Q. Why do you think they are here?

JASON DAY: I don't know, is the Olympics Game going on? Why are they here? I don't know.

Q. It's still golf and we are in France.

JASON DAY: It's a beautiful sport, isn't it, firstly, and this is a great golf course. I think it's a great venue. Paris is a really cool spot to come to. I felt really bad thinking about the guys that went to Japan and they had the COVID year where there was no crowds. Feel very lucky to be able to play in front of a crowd like this for sure.

Q. What had you nervous? The weight of responsibility?

JASON DAY: There's no responsibility. I think it was just like, this is the first time I actually felt like I was representing like a nation, which is kind of strange to say because we always talk about how we're on the TOUR and we play the PGA TOUR all the time. We're playing good golf and that represents your country.

But it wasn't like today when I was wearing these colours. I felt very honored after the first couple holes to be able to play here.

Q. Was there a pinch-me moment?

JASON DAY: No. I think it's more about the team environment. We don't play in very many team kind of tournaments. Even this one's not a team tournament. But like you can just see the pockets of different countries that are sticking together, and you see familiar faces, but like Team Australia, we're Team Australia. Team Japan, Team Japan.

It's interesting in that sense. So I think it's just kind of like the roller coaster of emotions that's developed over the first few days.

Q. When did you last represent Australia?

JASON DAY: When I was 17 maybe. Long time ago.

Q. Min Woo 5-over --

JASON DAY: He doesn't need to be embarrassed. He's trying his best. You want to play well here. I think he'll learn from the experience and change a few things. He earned his spot here. Sometimes you just don't play well. So he's got three more days to kind of work his way back into the tournament.

Q. Did you have to pick him up or lift his spirits?

JASON DAY: He's got his team and he's got a lot of people here that are picking him up. Maybe I'll say something to him. But I've got to pick-and-choose when to say something because sometimes he could be pretty down in the dumps right now. I know I would be if I didn't play well. So-just got to kind of see what the situation is.

Q. How disappointing is 18?

JASON DAY: Yeah, it's just two uncommitted things and it's very unprofessional to be able to do that. Just back off and readjust and hit it again. Just don't hit a shot you're not committed to and pay the price for it. I've just got to work on it on the range and see how it goes.

Q. Everyone in golf is trying to figure out where the Olympic golf fits into the larger landscape. How much could this week elevate it?

JASON DAY: Yeah, I think Japan because of COVID it didn't give this tournament enough, I guess, fire or momentum behind it because it was just like quiet and Xander won. You were watching it, and you weren't really, you know what I mean.

But you see the crowd this week and the whole field is different. It's just like a different vibe. I don't know how else to explain it. It's just such a unique crowd. It's not the typical American crowd that you get at home that is yelling pretty much every fairway. I think every person has got support out there which is fantastic.

Q. Will it get to a point where the Gold Medal is as revered as the majors?

JASON DAY: Potentially. That takes time and history. Over time, we're in our third Olympics in since the 1900s. I think at some point it will. Just because there's only one of them, you know what I mean. Currently on the men's side, there's only one Gold Medal that you can win. It's not like you can jump into swimming and if you're good enough, you can jump into different races. Over time it will just get bigger and bigger.