Only weeks after becoming Australia’s youngest ever winner on the US PGA Tour, Jason Day will this week contest the first major of his career.

Following the withdrawal of fellow Queenslander Greg Norman, Day now has his chance to make an impression in his first major at The Open Championship teeing off on Thursday.

“It's very exciting, especially at the home of golf. You know, I'm pumped for it. I can't wait to get over there,” Day said over the weekend.

Having gained the start at the hands of his childhood hero, Day says its an honor to take his place in this week’s field.

“I've known Greg since I was about 15. We talk here and there, exchange emails off and on. He's just been a real good guy to me, and he's been a very big support.”

“I haven't talked to him lately, but I hope everything is okay. I hope that nothing has gone wrong that he couldn't play in the Open.”

Earlier this year Day suffered bronchitis and by his own admission hasn’t quite been able to shake the effects- even during his maiden PGA Tour victory at the HP Byron Nelson Championship in May.

The problem pushed him out of qualifying for this year’s US Open.

With the issue now related to a sinus problem, Day only last week said there is still a 50 per cent chance he will need sinus surgery to cure the on-going health problem.

“It's been going on for four months now, a long, long time. We're going to get it either way, either medically or surgically and we'll be back to 100 per cent.”

Day earned the right to play in this week’s Open Championship via his position as an alternate. Day was the leading world ranked player not already exempt into the field.

from pgatour.com.au