The only others to tick off three of golf’s four majors by the age of 25 were Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, names that are meant either to be whispered or shouted and nothing in between.
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With the trend in world golf leaning towards younger and younger champions with 20-somethings Day, Spieth and Rory McIlroy winning five of the last six majors, Scott is aware of the time frame to achieve his goals. “I think Tiger’s going to win more tournaments”. That, too, is on Rory’s mind, and so is knowing how the sight of him in a green jacket would make them all wince.
“I’d be lying if I said those guys having success doesn’t motivate me”, McIlroy said. “That would be fun”.
“The course that we saw last year, it’s pretty much the same that we’re seeing this year”.
“But now, with what I’ve done the past year and a half, I feel like I’m preparing myself for a good Sunday here and a good final nine”. But every year that passes that I don’t, it will become increasingly more hard.
“And we’ve already done it, so it’s not like I’m chasing my first major”.
Day – in advance of this week’s Masters, for which he’s one of the favorites to win – on Tuesday recalled sitting in his RV parked across Washington Road from Augusta National before the 2011 Masters contemplating quitting competitive golf. He hits the ball high and so far – and I think it’s always been an advantage to hit the ball high on this golf course. Two other Masters champs, Bubba Watson and Charl Schwartzel, also have victories in 2016. I played well. I finished 12-under-par for the tournament. I take a lot of confidence from that.
That ends this year, meaning that Bradley – a Vermont native who graduated from Hopkinton High School – will have to play his way into the first three majors in 2017. The world number 50, who won the 2014 U.S. Open and the 2010 PGA Championship, comes into the Masters on a drab run of form, having finished inside the top 10 of just one tour event since the start of 2015. Nicklaus won his 14th major when he was 35. “I’m doing better and making progress, but unfortunately, still not physically ready to play”.
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“Winning takes care of everything”, said Day, “and if you win, usually win the big ones, and you can extend the gap between being Number One and Number Two in the world”. He put on his green jacket Tuesday evening for the Champions Dinner, where the 22-year-old Texan had barbecue on the menu.
