Jason Day is determined not to be left behind in the stampede of golf’s young guns targeting the no.1 spot vacated by the apparently fading Tiger Woods.
Jordan Spieth’s breathtaking Masters victory and the feat of fellow young star Rory McIlroy in seizing both the British Open and the US PGA last year has Day more anxious than ever for a grand slam breakthrough.
For the first time in the game’s history its No 1 and No 2 players are aged 25. Day is well in the mix at 27.
Spieth’s start to finish win at Augusta has done much to invigorate the Queenslander in his quest for his first major.
“I want to be up there with him. That’s what I want to do,” said Day, who tied for 28th at Augusta after his putting let him down.
“To watch him play so well and to watch Rory (who finished fourth) play great and really keep that competitive edge and results up is amazing.
“I know it’s tough to do but it is something we are all striving towards even more now.”
Spieth climbed to world No. 2 with the win, behind McIlroy, as the potential for duels between the young guns begins to take shape.
Hot on the heels of the fifth-ranked Day and those above him are Rickie Fowler (26, world No 13), Patrick Reed (24, No 14), Hideki Matsuyama (23, No 15), Billy Horschel (28, No 19), Brooks Koepka (24, No 20), Victor Dubuisson (24, No 22) and Chris Kirk (29, No 24), who are all inside the top 25 before their 30th birthdays.
“Our generation is strong. It has taken over now,” Day said. “Hopefully we can all continue to play well for many years to come and win lots of big tournaments.
“I’m already excited about my next start, coming up in New Orleans next week.”
Tiger Woods’ days of grand slam glory may be over but he said of Spieth: “I think he can be great.”
Brandt Snedeker commented: “He has that wow factor”.
And Spieth’s fellow Texan and formed Masters winner Ben Crenshaw said rather vividly: “I think the world of him. I’ll never forget the first time I met him. I looked right at him and he looked at me and I thought I was looking at Wyatt Earp.
“He just had that look about him, just wonderful. I’m telling you, he’s way more mature than what I was when I was 21. He has things together.
“I’m sure it has struck all of you that he’s mature way beyond his years. He has an innate ability to score. And he’s got competitive fire. You can see it. I think he carries that off in a great fashion.”
Spieth previewed his path to potential stardom when he became the youngest winner on the PGA Tour since 1931 when he claimed the 2013 John Deere Classic and earned a wildcard pick on the Presidents Cup team.
And he finished tied second behind Bubba Watson on his Masters debut last year, aged 20, after playing in the final group on Sunday and leading after 11 holes.
Spieth’s performance means the rest will have to simply play better, according to Briton Paul Casey.
“It is harder to score today," Casey said. ‘It shows how good he is. I am impressed. We are playing catch-up.”
By: Robert Grant