Shark high on Day’s Masters chances

Greg Norman has high hopes that an Australian will again pull on the green jacket.

The “Great White Shark”, speaking at a Qantas Golf Club launch at New South Wales GC today, said he expected fellow Queenslanders Adam Scott and Jason Day to be right in contention.

But in what he says will be “the best Masters in a long time because it’s so open”, Norman fancies that Day’s time might be about to arrive.

“There’s no question (Day can win the Masters). I love the way he’s refocused, rededicated himself to the game of golf,” Norman said.

“I think we’ve got a got a couple of good Down Under guys who have got a chance to win the Masters this year.

“But Jason’s playing extremely well. He’s managed his schedule extremely well coming into it. He’s primed, he’s fresh and ready to go.

“His game suits Augusta National, but there are a lot of other great players out there and I think it’s going to be one of the widest open Masters in a long period of time. It will be good television.”

Norman said while he hadn’t seen Day in person, he liked his confidence.

“I’m not around him on a regular basis, but I’ve seen and read the positive comments about where he wants to go and how he wants to get there,” Norman said of his former Presidents Cup player.

“When you read between the lines and you know the guy himself, he’s really focused, and therefore it’s on one thing and that’s the Masters.

“He has openly said that he wants to be the No.1 player in the world and to do that you have to win major championships.

“He’s got the game, he’s got the capabilities to do it; whether it happens for him, we’ll see.

“There are many great players who want exactly what he does, and that’s why it’s going to be the best Masters in a long time because it’s so open.”

Norman said Scott, the 2013 champion, would again contend, particularly if his putting stroke was up to speed.

But the Shark wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not the short or long putter was best for Scott.

“Adam’s going to weigh up the situation for himself. It’s all about confidence and the way you feel,” he said.

“Let’s see what he does on Thursday in a couple of weeks.”