Jason Day has declared himself fit and firing for the unique US Open challenge ahead this week.
Under a fitness and form cloud in the lead up, two-time US Open runner-up Day says his length off the tee and imagination should hold him in good stead on a Chambers Bay course which is quite unlike those the world’s best usually face on tour.
World No.10 Day is undoubtedly one of the best talents in the game yet to win a major, having notched up seven top-10 finishes in just 18 major starts.
But, struck down by fatigue issues and dizzy spells over the last few months, he has struggled of late.
Since finishing fourth in New Orleans in late April, he went 0-3 when defending his WGC-Match Play title, shot an 81 to miss the cut at the Players Championship, withdrew from the Byron Nelson and missed the cut at the Memorial Tournament.
His blood tests and MRI’s came back clean leaving him to speculate that training too hard and lack of sufficient sleep could have been problems.
“It’s frustrating,” Day said of the latest of many injury and health setbacks that have punctuated his promising career.
“I got off to a great start (in 2015, winning at Torrey Pines) and was heading in the right direction but I hit a plateau, and I’m looking to change that this week.
“Over the last couple of years, I’ve been fed up with being injured, fed up with sitting out and watching the guys play without me being there.
“I feel like I have the potential to go out there and play well and win a lot. But with injuries it’s tough to do, especially at the highest level.
“But I feel good this week and I feel like my game is ready to play well here.”
While Day has finished inside the top four in three of his four starts at US Opens he admitted this course is so unlike any previous US Open venue that the past may bring little value.
Chambers Bay, hosting the US Open for the first time and just seven years old, has a links-style look coupled with elevation changes and the difficulty of the greens has already drawn some player comment.
“At the end of the day the US Open is all about controlling your attitude, controlling your emotional level and your stress levels out there because it can be a very frustrating week if you let it be,” Day said.
“And for me personally, I think the biggest thing is not to beat myself out there.
“You’ve just got to keep grinding and grinding and grinding, and hopefully by Sunday you’re somewhere around the lead.
“I’ve taken that into every US Open I’ve played and I’m looking forward to trying to get across the line this week.”
