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BY Almost immediately, Day demonstrat- “Jason’s naturally a hard worker, so that his fi rst such failure as a pro, at a 2007 JAIME DIAZ ed the obsessive work ethic of a young pissed him off,” Martin says, “but it need- Nationwide Tour event he led after three ‘YOU GO, “I CAN’T man hungering for approval and vali- ed to be said, and he took it the right way — rounds: “I shot 80. It was a pretty good 80. FOCUS ON RUNNING dation. Inspired by Woods’ instruction as a challenge.” I hooked my ball off the fi rst tee, hit a little book, How I Play Golf, Day began rising Day began using the principles of Focus- girl. I was kind of shaken up after that, but AWAY. I HAVE TO FACE at 5am to practise and play before classes. Band, which measures brain activity and yeah, I learned a good lesson obviously on Under Swatton, Day developed a game cognitive function. A routine that begins how to handle pressure that day — also not THIS STRAIGHT ON.” ’ reminiscent of Norman’s in the stability, when Day arrives at his ball and features to break up with your girlfriend the night — JASON DAY compactness and speed of his swing, the standing on the target line with fl utter- before. That definitely doesn’t help.” height of his ball fl ight, and his skill with ing eyes shows Day how to use the “right Says Swatton: “Until last year, Jason nev- the short game and putter. Day dominat- brain” hemisphere that can access “the er truly knew why he was playing. Maybe ing comfortable with being uncomfort- ed his age groups in Australia, and in 2004 zone” and what that feels like — and how initially it was for his dad, and maybe for AFATER SOMELFRAGILLE MOMENTS,INJASON DAY able,” avoiding “self-sabotage,” and the he travelled to San Diego and was a win- to replicate it. When Day encountered ver- me, and his wife and kids. He had extrin- TURNS INSPIRATION INTO OBSESSION need to “walk towards the fear” to de- ner in the Callaway Junior World Champi- tigo in the second round of the 2015 US sic goals based on money, to the point that scribe his feelings and thoughts during onships. By 18, he had turned pro, and in Open at Chambers Bay, falling on his fi nal he bought things to unconsciously create here’s an easy “hi, mate” openness and humility to Jason Day. The 28-year-old competition. 2007 he joined the Nationwide Tour. In his hole, he shot rounds of 68-74 on the week- pressure to perform. Every time we talked Australian calls himself “a boring person,” equating golf’s other 20-somethings At Bay Hill, where he hung in and came fi rst year, he fi nished fi fth on the money list end despite the lingering effects to fi nish about how good Tiger was, I’d say to Jase, from behind to win on the strength of his and qualified for the PGA Tour. He famous- T-9. Day took it as a positive, saying the ad- ‘Why does he do it? Why does he love it?’ to “the popular kids in school... I’m just the nerd in the back.” Day’s attempt short game — he did the same thing a week ly said, “I can take Tiger down.” (Says Day versity “helped me to see how far I could And the reason I did is that I wanted him at a recent press conference to explain his combination of power and touch — later at the Match Play, particularly in beat- today: “When you’re that young and you’re really push myself.” to fi nd his intrinsic motivator. Because no ing McIlroy in a tense semi-fi nal — Day ad- full of confidence, you don’t say the great- In the next Major, the Open Champi- one can fi nd it for him. “Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy had a baby, and I was it” — was slightly, though mitted the stress of making up for poor est things.”) onship at St. Andrews, Day had a 20-foot “I believe he has fi nally realised in a charmingly, off. It’s why he lets his wife, Ellie, do his tweeting. But Day’s warmth ball-striking presented a test he used to be Day appeared to have been rescued. But birdie putt on the 72nd hole to get into a deeply held way, I really, truly want to unable to pass. “It’s so uncomfortable, you his past made the road ahead complicat- play off but left it short. On the plane to be the best player in the world,” Swat- is the reason his ascension to World No. 1 last September, shortly after winning his feel like you want to run away,” he said. ed and confusing. “Anytime he was giv- Toronto for the RBC Canadian Open, Day ton says. “I see it in his new ability to win fi rst Major championship, at Whistling Straits, has been a popular one “Times like that are where you go, ‘I can’t en good feedback, it was so unfamiliar to realised that he had played with great con- multiple times. It means he loves winning. in the caddie yards, equipment trailers and tournament offices of professional golf, and especially among focus on running away. I have to face this him, he didn’t like it,” Swatton says. “He sistency — his only three bogeys coming And that means Jason loves the practising straight on. I’ve got to fi ght for this win.’ ” still struggles with complimentary stuff.” during the windblown second round — and every aspect of preparation, because the tight group of players and families who, like the Days, regularly travel and try to normalise Tour life in Breaking through has been liberating The kid who had grown up being criti- and possessed a new serenity. “It felt like he knows it will help him win. Now it feels a luxury RV. “Jason has a sweet nature that’s pretty laid-back, even when he’s got to be intense,” says fellow and energizing. Seeing what’s possible, he cised wasn’t sure he was good enough. On it changed me and the way I look at my- has stepped up efforts in every area. Un- the PGA Tour, amid the game’s best play- self,” he says. When he got off the plane Aussie and friend Geoff Ogilvy. “Most players, especially the really good ones, aren’t like that.” der trainer Cornell Driessen, the 6-foot, ers and the toughest setups, Day began and into the limo, Day told Martin, “I’m 190-pounder has focused on strengthen- to question himself and proved mentally going to win this week.” ‘UNTIL LAST YEAR, Day is unlike his peers in another, seem- in his class (his mother is Filipino), was ing his core for greater speed and to guard fragile. The day before the tournament, Day sat JASON TRULY NEVER ingly opposite way. From age 10 to 13 in a taunted with racial slurs, he dreaded his against more injury to what has been a down with fi lmmaker Kevin Foley (broth- Trough side of Rockhampton, a Gold Coast father fi nding out. “He’d tell me, ‘If you troublesome lower back. Caddie, coach LONE VICTORY er of coach Sean Foley) to talk about his KNEW WHY HE WAS town north of Brisbane, Day got into a lot don’t fi ght that kid tomorrow, I’m going and father fi gure Colin Swatton guides Day From 2008 through 2013, Day won once life. “He was still raw from St. Andrews, PLAYING.’ of fi stfights. Though many took place in to beat you up when you get home’,” Day through the technical and mental challeng- in 129 PGA Tour starts. His lone victory and his eyes looked right through me and — COLIN SWATTON schoolyards, they were still the gasping, says. “So I’d get in a fi ght.” es, as he has done since Jason was 12. Day came in the Byron Nelson, where, with a burned into the camera,” Foley says of the desperate kind that ended when one par- Alvyn died of stomach cancer when Ja- has also increased his texting correspond- one-shot lead, he hooked a middle iron fi lm, “Never Say Die,” which was nominat- ty quit or got hurt, although the stress of a son was 12. Not surprisingly, the leftover ence with childhood hero and friend Ti- into the water on the 72nd hole and made ed for an Emmy. “There was this intensity, like the journey is just beginning again.” quick rematch could loom. turmoil and anger within his son, now with- ger Woods, saying “If you’re going to pick a bogey but survived when Blake Adams like a light had gone on, and he couldn’t Says Ogilvy: “It’s noticeable in his fo- It’s not the background of most profes- out a strong authority fi gure, led to an aim- brain, it would be his.” did the same thing. wait to play again.” cus that Jason is really set on getting as sional golfers. As Lee Trevino, a brawler in less period of drinking and more fi ghting. And if you’re going to pick a power play- At the 2013 Masters, Day arrived at the On Sunday, Day birdied the 16th and good as he can. It lets him activate one his public golf years in Dallas and El Paso, Day says he doesn’t remember much about er, it would be Day.