Spot the difference: Jason Day and Bernard Tomic

By Australian Golf Digest

By Evin Priest

WHAT is the difference between these two Aussie sportsmen?

Yes, there are plenty of similarities – both world No.4 Jason Day and tennis player Bernard Tomic recorded wins during the same week in their respective sports. Both received bizarre hats with their trophies. And both are in their 20s.

But what makes these two equally hilarious images so contrasting?

Well, the answer lies in a two moments that occurred during Day’s victory at the Canadian Open, one week after his heartbreaking loss at the Open Championship at St Andrews.

Our national body Golf Australia today received this email from Tom Sears, governor of Golf Canada:

“One of our Board members, Charlie Beaulieu was serving as the starter on tee #1 and at a break he told me that unlike many other gofers Jason Day came up to him on #1, shook Charlie’s hand, introduced himself and thanked Golf Canada for organizing this excellent event,” wrote Sears.

“Charlie was very impressed. Then later on another moment occurred. On hole #18 we had members of the Canadian Armed Forces hold the flag on #18 during putting. Jason collected the flag, came to the officer on the fringe of the green (military shoes) handed her the flag, shook her hand and thanked her for her efforts.

“The crowd on 18 was impressed. Jason is certainly a very impressive young man and a very worthy candidate to hold the Canadian title in the eyes on many people here in Canada. Though we were slightly disappointed ourselves, Jason played so well as you likely know. But even more importantly I thought you might enjoy this feedback about your representative from Australia.” 

If this moment taught us anything, it’s that Day’s attitude is what Tomic should aspire to.

Credit to Tomic in putting aside a (self-inflicted) tumultuous week – during which he refused an effort from Tennis Australia to mend their disfunctional relationship and was arrested for noise pollution at his $10,000-a-night Miami hotel room – to defend his title at the Bogota Open in Colombia.

But for 27-year-old Day to jump on a plane from Scotland to Canada, put together four incredible rounds, birdie the last three holes to clinch the title and THEN have the humility to thank the officials who ran the tournament AND a member of the Canadian Armed Forces shows exactly how professional athletes should handle themselves.

I’m just glad he’s in our sport.