[Photo: Getty images]
A bootcamp in Orlando featuring the return of the Australian swing coach who helped take him from teenage prodigy to world No.1 has put a spring in Jason Day’s step as he surged back into contention at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Day, who won the 2016 Arnold Palmer invitational, bounced back from a horror opening round with a sensational eight-under-par 64 on Friday at the brutally difficult Bay Hill course. An eagle at the par-5 sixth, seven birdies and a bogey elevated Day to four-under for the tournament – four shots back of second round leader Shane Lowry (eight-under).
It was Day’s career-low score in 41 rounds at the Palmer event and Day became the first player to card 64 or better at Bay Hill since 2021 when Keegan Bradley shot 64 in round three.
After his round, Day revealed he recently reunited with former coach and caddie Col Swatton, who he met in high school. The pair became a wildly successful player and caddie/coach combination on the PGA Tour. Day ascended to world No.1 in 2015, shortly after winning his first career major at that year’s PGA Championship.
Day and Swatton as player-caddie at the 2017 edition of the Palmer event.
But Day split with Swatton in 2017 in terms of the caddie role and years later also parted with him as coach. But Day reconnected with Swatton earlier this year after splitting with swing coach Chris Como in late 2024. “I was very fortunate that he was willing to come back on board; Col knows my game better than anyone and you need a good team around you,” Day said Friday.
In the meantime, Swatton became a talented commentator while also coaching gifted young Australian Karl Vilips, a PGA Tour pro playing the opposite field event the Puerto Rico Open this week. “I love what I do with PGA Tour Live and ESP+,” Swatton said when contacted by Australian Golf Digest on Friday. “I’m doing the World Feed next year. Karl is playing well in Puerto Rico Open.”
Recently, Day rented a house near the famous Isleworth Country Club with Swatton and other members of the team for a bootcamp. Swatton liked what he saw. “I think above all, I love Jase,” Swatton said. “We’ve been on this journey for a long time, since he was 13 years of age when he first came to Kooralbyn [School in Queensland]. I just want him to be happy. I want to see him successful in this career he’s chosen. So I’m willing to do whatever’s necessary to allow him to have that opportunity.”
Their first order of business was to shore up a putting stroke that used to be a strength but has, of late, become his biggest shortcoming. Day, 37, has more than struggled on the greens. Though he hasn’t missed a cut this year, he ranks 156th in strokes gained/putting, losing just under half a stroke per round at -.494. He is 174th in total driving, but he knew his priority had to be his work on the greens. In short, Swatton altered Day’s setup over the ball.
Coupled with Day’s recent results on tour (T-3 at the American Express) and at the majors (career-best tie for second place at the 2023 Open Championship), Swatton believes the current world No.34 can capture an elusive second career major title.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Swatton said when asked if Day could still win majors. “I think definitely Jason has the ability to still be in the conversation come Sunday of a major. He has what it takes to win [multiple times] on the PGA Tour. We’ve got 36 holes to go here at Bay Hill and if the course gets firmer as the weather suggests, that plays into his hands.”
Australian fans would undoubtedly be excited at the pair teaming up again with just over a month until the 2025 Masters. Day has a stellar record around Augusta, he was T-5 behind Tiger Woods in 2019, while he held the lead with two holes to play in 2013 only to surrender to winner Adam Scott. On debut in 2011, Day finished T-2 at Augusta.
“We know his game is tailored to Augusta National because we’ve seen some really good results there,” Swatton said.
Majors
Swatton:
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