The Australian golfer returns to TPC Sawgrass this week fresh off a win at the Wells Fargo Championship, his second victory of the season. And he’ll take a shot at a third at THE PLAYERS Championship, where he won in 2016. Surely, few in the field probably feel better about their chances than Day.
“Obviously THE PLAYERS is such a huge event,” Day said Sunday after his victory. “It feels like a major to me and I'm sure it feels like a major to most guys. It's really nice to be able to play pretty solid for the most part of the week. The short game is really nice, it's rounding out nicely for next week.
“I've obviously got a lot of work to do over the next few days. I'm going to enjoy tonight and obviously enjoy this win, but once tomorrow starts, it's got to focus back on THE PLAYERS and trying to win that one.”
Day is one of six Australians in the field looking to bring back a sixth title to his home country. Joining him are Adam Scott—who won THE PLAYERS in 2004—Marc Leishman, Geoff Ogilvy, Rod Pampling and Cameron Smith.
Each has encountered their share of success on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course. Leishman’s best finish was a T8 showing in 2013, Ogilvy had a T12 in 2012, while Pampling recorded a T27 performance in 2005. Cameron Smith made his only start in the event last year and failed to make the cut.
Should Day or Scott win, they would join fellow Australian Steve Elkington as a two-time winner (1991, 1997). Greg Norman also brought home a victory in 1994.
Below is a complete list of Australians to compete in the prestigious PLAYERS Championship:
|
Player |
Best Finish |
Year |
Last Start |
Total Starts |
|
Robert Allenby |
2nd |
2010 |
2015 (T56) |
18 |
|
Stuart Appleby |
T14 |
1997 |
2014 (T77) |
15 |
|
Aaron Baddeley |
T9 |
2009 |
2017 (T41) |
14 |
|
Ian Baker-Finch |
T2 |
1992 |
1996 (Cut) |
8 |
|
Steven Bowditch |
T48 |
2014 |
2016 (Cut) |
3 |
|
Greg Chalmers |
T9 |
2000 |
2017 (Cut) |
10 |
|
Bruce Crampton |
3rd |
1974 |
1976 (T27) |
3 |
|
Rodger Davis |
68th |
1987 |
1992 (Cut) |
3 |
|
Jason Day |
Won |
2016 |
2017 (T60) |
7 |
|
Bruce Devlin |
T3 |
1977 |
1983 (Cut) |
9 |
|
Steve Elkington |
Won |
1991, 1997 |
2009 (Cut) |
19 |
|
Mathew Goggin |
T12 |
2007 |
2010 (Cut) |
5 |
|
Paul Gow |
Cut |
2002 |
2002 (Cut) |
1 |
|
Wayne Grady |
T19 |
1996 |
2000 (Cut) |
15 |
|
David Graham |
T9 |
1976 |
1991 (Cut) |
17 |
|
Nathan Green |
T16 |
2007 |
2010 (Cut) |
5 |
|
Richard Green |
T46 |
2005 |
2005 (T16) |
1 |
|
Bradley Hughes |
T62 |
1999 |
2001 (Cut) |
3 |
|
Matt Jones |
T17 |
2014 |
2016 (Cut) |
6 |
|
Stephen Leaney |
Cut |
2003 |
2008 (Cut) |
6 |
|
Marc Leishman |
T8 |
2013 |
2017 (Cut) |
8 |
|
Peter Lonard |
T6 |
2007 |
2009 (Cut) |
7 |
|
Graham Marsh |
T5 |
1977 |
1980 (Cut) |
4 |
|
Jack Newton |
T9 |
1979 |
1981 (Cut) |
3 |
|
James Nitties |
T39 |
2010 |
2010 (T39) |
1 |
|
Greg Norman |
Won |
1994 |
2004 (T81) |
21 |
|
Nick O’Hern |
T24 |
2005 |
2012 (Cut) |
8 |
|
Geoff Ogilvy |
T12 |
2012 |
2015 (T24) |
14 |
|
Brett Ogle |
T61 |
1993 |
1996 (Cut) |
4 |
|
Rod Pampling |
T27 |
2005 |
2017 (T48) |
10 |
|
Craig Parry |
T6 |
1992 |
2006 (T22) |
17 |
|
Steve Rintoul |
Cut |
1995 |
1995 (Cut) |
1 |
|
Adam Scott |
Won |
2004 |
2017 (T6) |
16 |
|
John Senden |
T8 |
2015 |
2016 (Cut) |
14 |
|
Peter Senior |
Cut |
1991 |
1994 (Cut) |
2 |
|
Bob Shearer |
T20 |
1978 |
1984 (Cut) |
7 |
|
Cameron Smith |
Cut |
2017 |
2017 (Cut) |
1 |