Double Major winning Greg Norman is predicting fellow Australian Jason Day to break through for Masters glory at Augusta National.
Day, 27 will be teeing up in his fifth straight Masters after making his debut in 2011 when he and fellow Australian Adam Scott shared second place two strokes adrift of South African Charl Schwartzel.
However it was two years later in 2013 when Day stamped his enormous potential by moving to a one shot lead after two rounds.
And with just three holes to play on the final day the now Ohio-based Aussie still enjoyed a one shot lead however bogeys at 16 and 17 saw Day fall two shots shy of the eventual play-off and eventually won by Scott.
Greg Norman shaking hands with Cameron Tringale after both he and Jason Day (middle) captured last December’s Franklin Templeton Shootout. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)
And after the agony of Norman finishing runner-up at Augusta on three occasions, including his Masters meltdown in 1996, Scott defeated Argentina’s Angel Cabrera with a birdie at the first extra hole to became the first Australian in the 77-year history of the Masters to be fitted with a green jacket.
Day admitted at the time: “The pressure got to me a little bit. I haven’t had the lead too many times in majors. If you can have a shot in most majors, sooner or later you’re going to get one.”
Day bounced back from the disappointment winning early in 2014 with victory in the WGC – Accenture Match-Play Championship and while a thumb injury ruined any Augusta aspirations he ended last year in good form with finishing second in the Barclays, fourth in the season-ending Tour Championship and then teaming with Cameron Tringale to win last December’s Norman-hosted Franklin Templeton Shootout.
This new season has seen Day capture the Farmer’s Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and share fourth place a week later in the AT & T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.
“My two hots picks would be Jason Day and Bubba Watson as the golf course, as we have seen, suits both of them,” said Norman
“Both can draw the golf ball well and what you need to do around Augusta and we’ve seen how Bubba can dominate the par 5s in being eight-under on the par 5s a year ago.
“But with Jason going so close two years ago he’s shown he can handle the golf course, and I know he learnt so much from that week.
“And the good thing about Jason is he’s going to Augusta having won this year and winning early in a season always helps your confidence.
“Then I also like Jordan Spieth after his Valspar victory and the fact he’s also again in contention in Houston.
“I also like Henrik Stenson’s chances as he seems to have sorted out his left and right speed putts plus I just love his ball-striking.
“Then of course there’s Adam (Scott) and another great ball-striker but with the only question marks hanging over him being in his putting.”
And with World No. 1 Rory McIlroy striving the win a career Grand Slam Norman believes the 25-year old Northern Irishman will have no concern being under the media spotlight.
“There is a host of golfers going to Augusta in with a chance of winning the Masters and he’s shown in the past he can handle all the media attention,” said Norman.
“My only worry is that while his game is there but then he’s not there in his mind. You watch him swing he also seems to have a few issues with his lower body but he will sort that out.
“And what I like about Rory is his honesty as we saw with his remarks during the Honda Classic and that’s good for an Rory’s got so much talent he can easily turn things around.”
Norman will not be at Augusta National but again remarked he is looking forward to his new role as a co-anchor for Fox Sports TV coverage and starting on the PGA Tour with the June 18th commencing U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in Washington State.
