Fingers crossed the 146th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale starting tonight will prove Jason Day’s chronic back problems aren’t career threatening.
Right now, that’s a reasonable question.
The 29-year-old Australian has only played 12 tournaments this year and has missed the cut in his last two starts because of the problem.
That makes three missed cuts in 12 starts, when he only missed four in the previous four years.
Day isn’t a whinger, and he suffers in silence, but the next four days will be the litmus test.
Interestingly, in a total of 205 weeks Day, compatriot Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, and Dustin Johnson have played musical chairs as the world number one golfer.
Scott had 11 weeks at the top, McIlroy has had sevens stints as number one for a total of 95 weeks, Spieth four stints for 26, Day three for 51, with Johnson the incumbent for the last 22 weeks.
But McIlroy and Johnson have been like Day of late – missing cuts.
McIlroy has missed the US, Irish, and Scottish Open cuts, while Johnson has missed his last two, including the US Open.
The golfing world was stunned when Johnson, McIlroy, and Day missed the US Open cut, that three in the top five missed out in such a huge major created history.
With Scott it’s a lottery as to how well he’ll perform.
If he can keep triples and doubles off his card, he may well be in contention on Sunday.
That leaves Jordan Spieth, who along with Brookes Koepka (US Open), Jon Rahm (Irish Open), and Bryson deChambeau (John Deere Classic), are last start winners.
Spieth said he’s felling great, McIlroy reckons this was a good time to back him, while Day’s very disappointed in his game.
The next four days, with bad weather the forecast, will be demanding.
The marquee groups:
Defending champion Henrik Stenson will be with Spieth, and South Korean Si Woo Kim.
Like the look of Jason Day, Sergio Garcia, and Zach Johnson.
So too Adam Scott with Rickie Fowler, and Paul Casey.
Australia’s most in-form golfer Marc Leishman will have Phil Mickelson and Francesco Molinari for company.
Dustin Johnson will have Rory McIlroy, and Charl Schwartzel.
World number two Hideki Matsuyama will be with Koepka, and Tommy Fleetwood.
Former champion Louis Oosthuizen will join Justin Rose, and Justin Thomas.
Two-time former champion Padraig Harrington will be joined by Pat Perez and Thomas Pieters,
But I’ve left my pick Jon Rahm until last, and he’ll be pressed over the first 36 holes by Patrick Reed, with Lee Westwood fronting in a major for the 78th time.
Don Freo
Guest
Only missing 3 cuts in the last 12 in the world's elite...and his career is at the crossroads?
LowPointGolf
Roar Rookie
Jason Day is going at the same rate of tournaments played as previous years, he only ever plays 20 events at max. He has played poorly the last few events but not because of the back. He has struggled with Driver and his Putting is no where near its usual brilliance. Stats will back this up also!
Julian King
Roar Guru
Day will be back. He's too good a golfer not to be. Returning from a back injury coupled with personal distractions would affect anyone's game. When he's on, he has one of the best short games in golf. Fingers crossed it clicks for him this weekend.
KingCowboy
Guest
Agree 100%. Heard him say that he just hasn't put the time into his game which is totally understandable. He will be a show this week!
Davico
Roar Pro
Seriously the guy has basically not been practicing for the past 12 months because his mother was diagnosed with cancer and was told she only had months to live. Pretty sure his focus has not been on golf.
Josh
Guest
This is one of the more open sporting events of the year with some juicy odds on offer and so many variables on the top contenders. I like Garcia simply for the fact he has been so consistent at The Open over the years. I also like Justin Thomas at odds who has had a very strong season so far.