Jason Day hires Tiger Woods’ old swing coach while ditching equipment sponsor

Australian golfer Jason Day has made a raft of big changes for 2021, including hiring a former member of Tiger Woods’ team.

Hiring a former swing coach of Tiger Woods and ditching long-time equipment sponsor TaylorMade are among a series of huge changes Jason Day has made to try to rediscover his best golf.

The Australian former world No. 1 is in the Californian desert putting the final touches on preparations for his first event of the year – next week’s Farmers Insurance Open at San Diego’s famed Torrey Pines course.

In his pomp, Day was one of the most dominant world No. 1s of the last decade when he captured Australian hearts as a rags-to-riches sports star in 2015 and 2016.

The boy from a poverty-stricken household in Beaudesert, Queensland once held golf’s top spot for 47 consecutive weeks and won US PGA Tour events at a rate similar to the brilliant Woods.

But without a win in almost three years, Day, 33, has slipped to No. 43 on the world rankings.

For a winner of 12 US PGA Tour events, including a lone major title at the 2015 US PGA Championship, Day says No. 43 is not where he belongs.

Day at the 2015 US PGA Championship, his only major win so far. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

“If I look at my world ranking, that's the biggest motivation for me,” an honest Day said from California.

“Playing bad golf is frustrating; not living up to what you think you should be living up to is very frustrating.

“Where I’m ranked, I know I’m better than that. My inspiration is to try get back to world No.1. I know I still have the game to do it.”

To help him climb the mountain again, Day has employed American swing coach Chris Como, who worked with 15-time major winner Woods from 2015 to 2018.

Dallas-based Como is considered a new-age guru for his love of biomechanics but had very little success with Woods given he was struggling with injuries during that period.

Day, a close friend of Woods, is confident Como is the man having parted last year with his long-time Australian coach Col Swatton.

“Chris has an unbelievable knowledge,” Day said. “I have a lot of respect for Chris. Obviously, working with Tiger, he knows what that took. Chris is the right fit.”

Day, who has played exclusively with TaylorMade clubs for the majority of his professional career, has also become an equipment-free agent. It is the first time in his 14-year career that he has no equipment contract.

Day says he can again be a Major contender. Picture: David Cannon/Getty Images)

Day now plays a Ping driver, TaylorMade fairway woods, Mizuno irons, Artisan wedges and an Odyssey White Hot 2-ball putter.

“There‘s no contract in place right now; I’m pretty happy with how things are progressing,” he said. “I’ve got an assortment of all different clubs in the bag.”

Day and wife Ellie are also expecting a fourth child this year.

His start at Torrey Pines next week marks a return to a course where he won a world junior championship as a teenager before winning the 2015 and 2018 Farmers Insurance Opens on the US PGA Tour.

He hopes a new year and his changes pay off as he looks to capture an elusive second career major championship win.

“This is my 14th season on the PGA Tour,” Day said. “I know that a career is long, but I'm trying to get back to where I should be, and I feel like that’s No. 1 in the world. I’m doing everything I can.”

Originally published as Jason Day hires Tiger Woods’ old swing coach while ditching equipment sponsor