Day’s vertigo diagnosis

Jason Day’s vertigo has been linked to a viral ear infection and, while he has some potentially-permanent nerve damage, he insists he’ll be raring to go at next week’s British Open.

Day has not played competitive golf since his heroic effort in last month’s US Open where he overcame collapsing with a vertigo attack in round two to lead through three rounds before running out of gas on the final day.

Having faced issues since August with vertigo attacks the world No.8 put himself through a battery of tests and his medical team has finally pinpointed the issue and addressed it.

He has been placed on medication until at least October, and possibly for the rest of his career, to stop the virus ramping up and causing another episode.

Day says it is a small price to pay to keep his career moving ahead.

“It was attacking one of the nerves in my ear and I have some damage there right now but I am on viral meds to suppress it from growing and reproducing,” Day said ahead of his Thursday flight to Scotland for the Open at St Andrews.

“The medication shouldn’t affect me in an adverse way for my golf game so I am feeling good about that.

“I have had so many injuries and issues that now I have learnt to just move forward from them and not even be worried about them.”

Day’s doctor has advised the Queenslander he could still have an attack but the medication should bring those chances well down.

The diagnosis is a welcome one for the 27-year-old as he tries to change his less than stellar performances at the British Open.

While he has eight top-10 finishes in majors in 19 starts including three seconds, a third and a fourth, but none of them have come in the British Open where his best finish is a tie for 30th in 2011.

And while he faded from the lead at Chambers Bay last month to finish ninth he is taking confidence from the performance.

“I played well at Chambers which was closer to a links-style course so that gives me huge confidence that I can play on them,” he said.

“I have a good feeling that I am ready to play well over there. I have prepped well away from competition since the US Open, mentally and now physically it is coming together.”

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