After illness and a health scare for his wife interrupted Jason Day’s preparations for the defence of his US PGA Championship title, the Australian sought advice on how to tackle this week’s host venue from the head professional.
Day, who finally captured his maiden Major at last year’s tournament, is yet to play a practice round on the Lower Course at Baltusrol Golf Club, having only arrived in New Jersey on Tuesday afternoon ahead of his hosting of the traditional Champions’ Dinner.
His wife, Ellie, subsequently suffered an allergic reaction on the way home from the meal, prompting a late night visit to the local hospital, where she was eventually discharged at 2am.
A lack of sleep and a cold he picked up from his young son, Dash, have left Day “running on empty”; but the World Number One is hoping that his conversation with Doug Steffen, theBaltusrol club pro, will stand him in good stead as he attempts to become only the second player in the modern era after Tiger Woods to mount a successful defence of the US PGA title.
Day revealed: “With everything’s that’s been happening, I haven’t played a practice round yet. So I haven’t seen the course, and I don’t know what it looks like. But I was with Doug [Steffen] last night, and I went through pretty much every hole with him for about 30 minutes, so that was very helpful.
“I’m going to try to play all 18 today, but obviously the preparation has been a little on the lighter side.
Johnson said: “I’m feeling good – I’ve got a lot of confidence in my game. I feel like I’ve been playing really consistently all year. I feel like every week, I’ve gone out and I’ve had a chance to win. So right now, I feel like everything is going pretty well.
“I feel like I’m driving it well, I’m hitting my irons well and my wedge game has really improved. I think that’s probably the biggest difference this year than in previous years, my wedge game is a lot sharper now. I’ve got a lot more control with my wedges now, and that’s made a massive difference to my results and my confidence.”
Johnson said: “I’m feeling good – I’ve got a lot of confidence in my game. I feel like I’ve been playing really consistently all year. I feel like every week, I’ve gone out and I’ve had a chance to win. So right now, I feel like everything is going pretty well.
“I feel like I’m driving it well, I’m hitting my irons well and my wedge game has really improved. I think that’s probably the biggest difference this year than in previous years, my wedge game is a lot sharper now. I’ve got a lot more control with my wedges now, and that’s made a massive difference to my results and my confidence.”
