6. A refocused Jason Day
We last saw Day at the WGC Match Play. With his mother battling lung cancer Day’s focus was understandably not on golf, and he withdrew early.
Two weeks later, Day his mother is still battling, but she is improving. Thanks to that wonderful news, the former No. 1 seems to have a regained focus.
“For the first time in about a month and a half I was happy to be on the golf course. I was enjoying myself again,” Day said following a practice round at Augusta, per Ben Everill, PGATour.com. “It’s been really, really hard to enjoy myself. But I think things are starting to brighten up. So it would be nice to get back on track here.”
While he’s never won a Masters, a focused Day will be a factor on Sunday’s second nine. Day has played the Masters six times, and excluding his 2012 withdrawal he has finished no worse than tied for 28th. He’s added three top-10’s, finishing tied for 10th in 2016, solo third in 2013 and tied for second in 2011.
Day clearly has a great deal of comfort at this venue. Don’t be surprised to see him don the green jacket in what would be a highly emotional ceremony.