Australia's world golf number one Jason Day's lead-up to his US PGA Championship title defense has been far from ideal as a mix of untimely circumstances meant he had just one practice round.
World golf number one Australian Jason Day. Photo: Photosport
Day, already fatigued after going right from the British Open into his title defense at last week's Canadian Open, has since caught a bug from his children and was up late yesterday with a hospital visit after his wife had an allergic reaction.
"With the limited practice and limited prep that I've had this week, I'm not coming into this week expecting a lot," the world number one said.
"I mean, obviously I'm expecting to win, but like I'm not really going, 'all right, you need to go out and force things straightaway."
Day admitted to feeling a little worn out by a tournament schedule that is more crowded than usual because of next month's Rio Olympics, which he has pulled out of, but was determined to gear up for a last chance at a 2016 major.
Still, he said the packed schedule has denied him the chance to prepare for a major in the manner he usually does.
"This week is in a different time slot," the 28-year-old Australian said of the championship usually contested in August. "But it's still the last major. It's our last shot at glory.
"So I need to come in and try to get a good, solid 18 holes in today so I kind of know where I'm going."
Day tried to take a crash course on the Baltusrol layout during the champions dinner he hosted on Tuesday where he spent about 30 minutes talking to the head pro about nearly every hole on the course.
Following the dinner, Day's wife had an allergic reaction and broke out in a severe rash that resulted in a call to the paramedics and a visit to the hospital that kept them there until 2 a.m.
"She's fine now. We got a little bit of loss of sleep but we're fine," said Day.
Day can now put all his attention on defending a title he captured last year at Whistling Straits that ended years of close calls at the majors for the Australian and sparked a stunning run of form.
