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Jason Day in winning form ahead of Masters

Getty

Getty

World golf’s new king Jason Day says he’s ready to enjoy being the hunted at the Masters after claiming his second title in seven days.

“It will be fun to walk through the gates as No.1 in the world,” said Day, after capping his return to the top ranking with victory in the World Golf Championships-Match Play on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Australian has now won six of his last 13 tournaments and he’ll be the centre of attention as he heads to Augusta National in seemingly irresistible form for the Masters starting on Thursday week.

Day unseats Spieth as golf’s world No.1
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Australia’s green jacket challenge has seldom looked stronger with Day’s back to back wins at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and WGC-Match Play following consecutive victories by Adam Scott at the Honda Classic and WGC-Cadillac Championship – all in the past five weeks.

Day, the 2014 champion, claimed his second WGC-Match Play title when he swept past South African Louis Oosthuizen 5 and 4 in the final after getting through a tense semi-final against world No.3 Rory McIlroy 1-up in the morning.

But with another trophy and the No.1 ranking secured, his focus shifted straight to the Masters.

“It’s one tournament that I’ve always wanted – to put the jacket on and go back every year,” Day said.

“It’s been good momentum for me, confidence-wise, over the last two weeks but I can’t get comfortable with how I’m playing right now.

“I’ve got to keep working on the things that have caused me to win and keep doing that and then stay focused and hopefully put on the green jacket.”

JasonDay

The Aussie is back on top of the world and in great form ahead of the Masters.

While Day says he wants to embrace the fact he is the one with a target on his back, he is also mindful of his form in the last two trips down Augusta National’s Magnolia Lane.

After a runner-up and third place finish in his first three attempts there, his last two were less inspiring at tied 20th and tied 28th.

He admitted wanting it too much and pressing too early and at the wrong times led to mistakes then.

This time, thanks mainly to his breakthrough maiden major at the US PGA Championship last year, he will be better prepared.

“I think there’s a little bit more belief in my ability that I can get a job done, especially from the second half of last year and even more so over the last two weeks,” Day said.

“The mindset is different. Knowing that I’ve been in the heat of the battle, especially more so recently and understanding what that feels like, because everyone knows when you’re standing there on Sunday at Augusta it’s quiet and you’re in your own little world.

“You have to be able to stay in your own world. You have to be able to focus on what you need to do to get the job done.

“I’m really going to enjoy it. I feel like I’m going to play well.”

Taking down seven of the worlds best on the way to victory was all the more impressive given he almost pulled out after the opening victory with a bulging disc in his back.

Warming up for his second round clash Day’s advisors were erring towards withdrawing before the Queenslander knuckled down.

“Four of my team tried to talk me out of it. I’m glad I didn’t listen,” Day smiled.

“I feel good now, but I’m glad I was able to kind of stick it out because sometimes when you get in those situations you kind of mentally check out.

“When I was warming up, I was on the border of checking out. But I didn’t want to do that because I knew if I could get through seven guys, I could get to the trophy.

“I wanted to win. I just want to win.

“If I am to go on a long run as world No.1 then I have to keep winning, it is as simple as that.”

-AAP

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