It’s not uncommon for the phrase breakout year to be used on Tour. For Jason Day, 2011 was every bit one of those years as he established himself firmly in the highest ranks of international golf. Day rose to prominence in 2010 after winning the HP Byron Nelson Championship and consecutive top 5 finishes during the FedEx Cup playoffs. He then stepped into the biggest of spotlights in 2011 and shone. At year s end, head amassed nearly US$4 million in prize money, finished in the top 10 in the PGA Tour Money List and was among the top 10 ranked players in the world. His Masters campaign began in unremarkable fashion an even par 72 where Amen corner bit hard as Day made double bogey on 11. The round did however provide a signal of the rounds to come as he birdied 13, 14, 15 and 16 on the way in. Round 2 was an absolute knockout by any standard. An 8 under par 64 had Day s name in the headlines and he played the back nine in 5 under par. An even par 72 in the third round promised more but he saved the excitement until the last round. With another Green Jacket being prepared, Day birdied four of his last seven holes, including 17 and 18 leaving Australian fans on tenterhooks. Schwartzel would prove too strong and left Day to share second with fellow Queenslander Adam Scott in what was a superb maiden performance. At his best, as he proved with his runner-up finish at the US Open months later, any course is within his grasp. 2011 Rounds: 72-64-72-68 (-12) Final Position: T2 (with Adam Scott) Masters History: 2010 – DNP 2011 – T2
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