Move FM Australian News

With just one week to go before the PGA Tour resumes in Texas, Jason Day is excited about the prospect of a fresh start and a chance to reboot his career.

Day, who has suffered from chronic back problems in recent years, has been using the coronavirus shutdown to rest and recuperate.

A 12-time winner on the PGA Tour, the Australian has not tasted victory in more than two years, and is not currently ranked inside the world’s top 50.

But Day says he is happy with his form ahead of next week’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial in Texas, after spending plenty of time during the hiatus working with long-time coach Colin Swatton.

“Col and I have been putting in some decent hours and I’ve been playing well, so I can’t wait to get things going,” Day told AAP.

“I’m really looking forward to getting after it because my back feels better. Overall, I’m really pleased with the progress I’ve made in a short time.

“I have stepped up the practice during the last month or so. My game is feeling good and I just need to tighten the screws now.”

As for the threat of the coronavirus, Day is confident the PGA Tour is doing what is necessary to protect players and staff.

On Wednesday, the tour announced there will be a mobile coronavirus test centre which will travel to each tournament to test players, caddies and essential personnel.

Meanwhile, there will be no spectators for at least the first four events.

“The PGA Tour and [commissioner] Jay Monahan are doing the best job they possibly can to get us going again,” Day said.

“At these first few events, everyone will be nervous about what they can and can’t do but we will find our footing and the anxiety will ease a bit.”

The Charles Schwab Challenge will be followed by the RBC Heritage in South Carolina, the Travelers Championship in Connecticut and the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit, Michigan.

The Jack Nicklaus-designed Muirfield Village course in Columbus, Ohio, will then host back-to-back tournaments – an as-yet-unnamed event to take the place of the cancelled John Deere Classic, followed by the prestigious Nicklaus-hosted Memorial Invitational.

The back-to-back tournaments in Ohio suit Columbus resident Day just fine.

“It will be a big relief to be able to play and stay at home,” he said.

New PGA Tour schedule until the start of September:

June 11-14: Charles Schwab Challenge

June 18-21: RBC Heritage

June 25-28: Travelers Championship

July: 2-5: Rocket Mortgage Classic

July 9-12: TBD

July 16-19: The Memorial Tournament

July 23-26: 3M Open

July 30 – August 2: WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational

July 30 – August 2: Barracuda Championship

August 6-9: PGA Championship

August 13-16: Wyndham Championship

August 20-23: The Northern Trust

August 27-30: BMW Championship

September 4-7: Tour Championship

– TEAMtalk media