Aussie golf star Jason Day reveals the recurring health issue that ruined his participation in the Masters – and ventures on the LIV rebel tour
- Health drama halted progress on Jason Day’s Masters
- Recently experienced vertigo at Augusta
- Day, 35, is in encouraging form on the PGA Tour
- Also knocked back an approach from LIV Tour
Resurgent Aussie star Jason Day has made a subtle dig at the no-cut aspect of LIV Golf, as he revealed that recurring bouts of dizziness hampered him in recent tournaments, including his horror final at the Masters, where it was “really a kick in the ass.” my ass’ was.
Day has risen from the depths of the world rankings, dropping outside the top 150 to 34 in 2022, now the second-highest ranked Australian after five top-10 finishes in his eight events on the US PGA Tour this year.
He turned down an attempt to join Greg Norman’s LIV Golf League during his slump, stating that he “loves the cut” as an aspect of tournament golf, something the new tour has done away with to ensure all 48 players at each event are paid.
Day responded to a question about the PGA Tour’s inclusion of several no-cut events this year as part of a direct response to the rise of LIV.
“I also like getting a haircut,” he said.
Aussie star Jason Day (pictured in action at the Masters) has made a subtle dig at the no-cut aspect of LIV Golf
“I think this year has worked out well with the cutbacks. I mean, we’ve had the best players in the world rise to the occasion several times now.
“I look at it and I say if the best players have to stay for a weekend, we have to play better, and I understand that.
Why do we need guaranteed wages? We’ve played golf all our lives. I think the majority of fans know that you come in and play for two days.
“If you don’t play well, you’re out and you don’t get paid. That’s just how our lives are put together.’
Day flirted with a fight in Augusta before the final round of a horror show in which he shot 80 and, ahead of his return to the Wells Fargo Championship this week, revealed he was stricken with vertigo, which has affected him before.
Day, 35, said he was hit after finishing his weather-delayed third round and just before heading into his final 18 holes at the Masters, forcing him to take some time off and stop his golden run.
“We had to finish our third round on Sunday morning and then I was in the caddy cabin and then I got dizzy,” he said in North Carolina.
“It’s just hard because when you feel like you’re running at full throttle, you make a lot of birdies, you do a lot of good things, it’s hard when you sometimes [ill] health plays a role.
Day has revealed that his constant battle with dizziness stopped his momentum at Augusta
The Aussie had been battling it out at the famous tournament last month before crashing back through the standings thanks to a shock final round
“So it’s just one thing after another where I just have to peel it off a little bit, understand a little bit more, get a little bit better.”
“It was a real kick to Augusta. That was about the time when I had to take a step back.
“I just had to take some time off, that was pretty plain and simple. And then of course also just reworking how I get to the golf course and also work.
“But I’ve had three weeks off and I feel like I’m getting to grips with it, which is good, so it’s just going to take some time.”