Remember When Jason Day Challenged Tiger?
May 31st, 2010 by Phil Reich PGA Golf Art
Back in November 2007, just after turning 20 years old, Jason Day told the world what he wanted out of golf: To be better than Tiger Woods.
“I’m sure I can take him down,” Day told the Melbourne Herald-Sun. “My goal is to be the No. 1 golfer in the world and I want to chase Tiger. … All I want to do is work hard, win tournaments and catch up with Tiger. … I just want to work really hard and take him down.”
Why in the world was 20-year-old Jason Day talking like that? He was coming off a season on the Nationwide Tour during which he won a tournament at 19 years, seven months old – the youngest winner ever on the Nationwide Tour; at the end of which he finished fifth on the money list to earn his PGA Tour card. It was a year when he also made five cuts in PGA Tour events, including two Top 25 finishes. Again, at age 19.
His future did appear very bright. As it does again today, after Day posted his first PGA Tour victory at the HP Byron Nelson Championship, still only 22 years old.
In 2008, Day made 13 of 28 cuts in his rookie PGA Tour season, finishing 136th on the money list. In 2009, he made 14 of 18 cuts, had a runner-up, and finished 69th on the money list. This year was so-so prior to winning the Nelson – 6 of 11 cuts, but with three Top 25 finishes.
But then there’s that win.
With Rory McIlroy winning and Rickie Fowler coming close a couple times, I’ve had a few chances recently to look at past winners on the PGA Tour in their early 20s. Since 1970, here are the only players to win on the PGA Tour at age 22 or younger: Read more…
Remember When Jason Day Challenged Tiger? originally appeared on About.com Golf on Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 at 19:02:10.
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