Clear Day Light
Jason Day’s victory at Sawgrass, his 7th in 17th starts elevates him not just above his peers in age Rory McIlroy and Ricky Fowler but the rest of the world. Before Jordan Spieth messed up at Amen Corner one might have had him as a rival. As Sir Nick Faldo noted he is reminiscent of Ben Hogan as there is no weakness to his game. Rory is experiencing problems in two areas: his putting and consistency. He carded a 64 at Sawgrass but a bogey on the 18th prevented him from troubling Day who won by 4 shots. Rory will be at the K course for the Irish Open as is charitable foundation sponsors it but the Pargie tenner likes value so will be invested in another Irishman Shane Lowry. Over at the US PGA it’s the Byron Nelson in Texas and I fancy one of the Johnsons, Dustin or Zach.
The threat to Day’s supremacy in the short to middle term might well come from farther afield, namely South Korea. Jeunchen Wang has won 2 out of the the last European Tour events. He is as cool as you like on the dance floor with the flat stick and there is steeliness about his game which belies his age. I backed him for the tourney in Mauritius which judging from the pictures of azure skies and soft white beaches my missus fancied as a destination for some winter sunshine. In an admittedly mediocre field he fought his way to the front over the Aussie Andrew Dodt. With Byung An and also Michael Kim doing well on the US PGA South Korea is a emerging golf nation.
Much as I rate Day I cannot see him as the successor to Tiger as a 12 time major winner or feared awesome competitor in the final round. More likely a six time winner like a Faldo or Ballesteros. Aside from the South Koreans there is the younger generation of American golfers which might be led by Spieth but number a few with potential namely Justin Thomas, Smiley Kaufman, Patrick. Rodgers and the newest kid on the block Bryson Deschambeau.