Jason Day turns to Tiger Woods for advice ahead of the Open

Jason Day of Australia speaks at a press conference ahead of the 145th Open Championship at Royal Troon

Speaking at Royal Troon ahead of the Open, Jason Day has been talking about what he learned from three time Open Champion Tiger Woods.

“When I talk to him, it’s about how mentally tough he was,” said Day.

“Being able to — I want to put it this way, he was the smartest guy — not the smartest guy at times, but for the most part his game plan was, when he would try and play against us and when he didn’t have his best stuff, he would just find a way to get it done.

“Miss it in the right spots. His game plan was, I just got to get this ball in the hole.

“If it was trying to catch someone, he wanted to cut that lead down maybe one or two shots or whatever it was, just cutting into that lead will show that there’s presence there.

“Even the same way, if you have the lead, being able to extend that lead shows that you’re playing some pretty strong golf.

“But I’ve learned a lot about him. But the mental strength that he had, just the will to try and get the job done regardless of how you’re hitting it is probably the biggest thing.

“Not everything that I take from him works for me.

“But that’s why we’re two different players and I play a different game to him. So it’s kind of really just sifting out all the stuff that I think will work and work for me and trying it out. From there trying to put that in my game and hopefully it works.”

Day was also full of praise for Zach Johnson especially his mental strength, “He’s very mentally tough. He’s like a bulldog,” he said.

“There’s three things with Zach: Got a driver good, got a wedger good, and got to putter good. He’s obviously not the longest player, but he hits it pretty straight.

“When he doesn’t, he wedges it pretty good, and that usually saves him, because there’s been times where he’s, take Augusta National for instance, he didn’t go for the green once, and he won it.
“So when I talk to him about it, he says they’re the three keys for him, got to drive it straight, wedge it good, and got to putt good. And mind you, he’s very gritty.

“He’s very smart in that way that he’ll plot his way around because he has to, but take his opportunities when he can. And when he does, it’s pretty big.”