Jason Day’s blossoming friendship with Tiger Woods took a new twist at the weekend with the former World No.1 giving the young Aussie an insight into what he hopes Day will experience himself tonight at St Andrews.
The pair, who were grouped together for the opening two rounds of the British Open, were seen having a long conversation up 18 in which Woods reflected on the specialness of the final hole at the Home of Golf.
“It’s one of the things I was talking about with Jason,” Woods recalled after missing the cut at the course he won two British Opens at previously.
“We were coming up 18, I said, it’s the greatest walk in golf. He says, yeah, it’s nice when you have an eight-shot lead, too. I said, well, you just go ahead and go get that lead. He’s playing well enough to do it.
“But there’s a lot of guys who have a chance to win. This golf course is definitely gettable. The greens are soft and receptive, and if you’re driving it well and driving it long, this golf course is very much gettable.”
Woods’ public backing of Day follows his comments earlier in the year when he tipped the Aussie to be a Major star.
“He’s going to win one, there’s no doubt about that. He’s got the talent. He’s got the game. He’s still so young,” Woods said of Day.
“He’s proven that he can put in the time. He puts in the effort. He puts in the work. Him and (caddie) Col (Swatton), they go at it pretty good and it is good stuff.
“It’s good to see him making the subtle changes that he needs to make, and he certainly has a lot more shots now than he used to, and I’m sure in a few more years, he will have even more in the arsenal.”
Day will be in the final pairing for tonight’s closing round, with a stack of players all in contention for the Claret Jug.
