Paris first, then in four years, LA as Aussie golfer Jason Day seeks to make up for lost time
Former world no. one golfer Jason Day makes his Olympic debut in Paris and is desperate to make up for lost time after a decision he now regrets meant he missed his only other opportunity.
Jason Day is already eyeing off a spot at the Los Angeles Games as he looks up to make up for lost time in the Olympic arena.
Day sat out the Rio Olympics eight years ago due to fears over the zika Virus, a decision he now regrets given he was No.1 in the world at the time.
He then missed selection in Tokyo but will partner good mate Min Woo Lee in Paris as the pair look to secure the country’s first Olympic medal in golf.
While Lee opted to attend the opening ceremony in Paris on Saturday morning (AEDT), Day decided to sit it out, providing further motivation for a tilt at LA in four years time.
“I guess we will have to go to the opening ceremony in LA and try to qualify for LA,” Day said.
“That would be a good goal. I could have played Brazil – I know that I probably messed up there. We were trying to start a family and there was that the zika virus was going around.
“I saw Cammy Smith play with Leish (Marc Leishman) in Japan. I really wanted to go to Japan. I obviously wasn’t playing good enough to go there.
“I know a lot of people work hard to get to the Olympics. Hopefully I can make up for it this time around.”
Day arrives in Paris confident that he can contend after a strong performance at the recent Open championship. He was on the leaderboard midway through the tournament before eventually finishing in a share of 13th at Royal Troon in the testing conditions.
There is a clear motivation to honour the nation of his birth with a strong performance.
“I just try to do the best job I can,” Day said.
“I’ve been playing professional golf for 18 years, so I’m just trying to do what I can to play as well as I can. It would be nice to look back one day and know you competed in the Olympics and won a medal, let alone it being gold.
“You’re not only doing it for yourself, you’re doing it for a country. When I say it like that, there is a little bit of pressure I put on myself.
“When I think about it, I get kind of nervous about it which means I really care about it. I know I will definitely be emotional about (the anthem).
“It is hard to project myself forward and think about that. I will probably most likely end up crying. If I hear a national anthem, typically I shed a tear anyway. It means something to me, you know?”
World No.1 Scott Scheffler will be the man to beat at Golf National when the men’s tournament gets underway on August 1 (AEDT), but he won’t be the only threat to Day’s plans.
Nine of the to 10 players in the world will be in the field including four-time major winner Rory McIlroy, defending champion Xander Schauffele and Swedish young gun Ludvig Aberg.
“Golf is a funny one,” Day said.
“Like no matter how well ranked you are – obviously right now is a little different, especially with how Scottie is playing because every time it seems like he’s winning – but golf’s kind of funny.
“It’s just kind of funky. It’s kind of anyone’s game. If you’re in there, you have a chance to win a medal.”
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