Jason Day planning to return to Australia more often as he embraces trip to Queensland for Australian PGA

It’s been seven years since Jason Day was back in Australia and after arriving in Brisbane for this week’s Australian PGA Championship he made a beeline for one thing.

Jason Day is fully embracing his long-awaited return to Queensland as he juggles treasured family time, reconnecting with old friends and tucking into some “phenomenal” meat pies a with the task of winning the Australian PGA Championship for the first time.

USA-based Day is back home for the first time in seven years, and while it will only be a short trip, he plans to make the most of every minute of his time here.

“It’s going to be very short week,” said the 37-year-old former world No.1, who heads back to America next week ahead of his participation in Tiger Woods’ Hero Challenge early next month.

“It’s going to be very quick and I’ve been trying to catch up with as many people as I possibly can.

“It’s a little bit emotional to see some of the faces. My sisters, I haven’t seen them since my mum passed away (in March 2022), so it’s been nice to be able to catch up with my sisters. “I’ve got a lot of friends that will be here this week (at Royal Queensland), so really I’m looking forward to … the four days.”

Jason Day plays a shot during the Australian PGA Pro-Am on Wednesday. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Day’s trip has already included an early morning trip to his favourite Forest Lake bakery as soon as his plane landed.

“The first stop was at a bakery eating two meat pies and it was phenomenal,” he said.

A trip to KFC is also Day’s agenda this weekend.

“Aussie KFC – so good. It’s not like the KFC in America. The KFC over here, it’s unbelievable,” he said.

Day is hoping to say the same thing about his golf game after Sunday’s final round at Royal Queensland.

“I know that I’ve always wanted to win in Australia. I haven’t won as a professional here,” the 2015 US PGA champion said.

“I’ve seen Jordan Spieth come down here, Rory (McIlroy) come down here and (both) … win the Australian Open.

“They’ve accomplished that and it’d be nice for me to be able to (win the Australian PGA), especially here in Brisbane, where part of my life I grew up, and especially at a place like Royal Queensland.

“It’s very iconic. I grew up playing some tournaments here, but it’s always nice to be able to win a tournament regardless of where you go, but to be able to win one on home soil and to know that you can come back and win one, that would be special.”

Jason Day is ready for a tilt at the Australian PGA championship. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Day hopes to return to Australia regularly in the future, and next time bring his wife Ellie, and their five children – Dash, Lucy, Arrow, Oz and Winnie – with him.

“My family has never been to Australia. I’d love to bring them down. I know that it is just so nice to be here,” he said.

“When my mum was still alive, I lived a little bit in Forest Lake and we would come to the city all the time, and I’ve played a lot of golf in and around Brisbane.

“The last time I played Royal Queensland was when we had … the golf course on the other side of the (Gateway) Bridge, so it has been a while.

“The change of schedule (on the PGA Tour), and also me being healthy and being able to bring my family down, that’s something that I want to do, to be able to come back a little bit more.

“What Cam Smith has done so well, he’s supported Australian golf since he’s turned professional, especially here in Brisbane, and he’s done a wonderful job.

“I know that everything goes a long way, especially with the junior golf that we’ve got and young professionals that are playing this week. It’s nice to see the guys come back.”

Originally published as Jason Day planning to return to Australia more often as he embraces trip to Queensland for Australian PGA