Jason Day’s profession resurrection has hit a brand new peak, with the Queenslander formally Australia’s top-ranked golfer once more as Cameron Smith’s slide continued.
Smith, who had been Australia’s No.1 since he jumped over Adam Scott after the 2021 Masters, has fallen to 23, his lowest rating since November 2021, on the again of ending in a tie for seventeenth on the Australian Open.
Day, who skipped his nationwide open in favour of enjoying at Tiger Woods’ Hero World Problem, completed eleventh within the invitation-only area in Bermuda. That was sufficient to carry him to 19 on the planet and assume the mantle of Australia’s top-ranked participant once more.
The previous world No.1 hit a low of 159 in August 2022, as he battled swing and harm points that threatened to finish the 36-year-old’s profession.
However he fought by means of his points and after ending 2022 as world No.122, Day racked up an emotional thirteenth PGA Tour victory on the Byron Nelson Championship in Might and continued his comeback by ending in a tie for second at The Open Championship in August.
His 12 months additionally included eight top-10 finishes from 24 occasions and had him within the working to win the Greg Norman Medal, shedding out to Minjee Lee.
Smith’s sluggish roll down the record, because of the rejection of LIV Golf’s request for world rating factors, may but price him a second journey to the Olympics.
Projections have him falling under the automated qualification line that will open the door for red-hot Australian PGA Championship winner Min Woo Lee to hitch his sister, Minjee, in Paris.
Min Woo gained one other three locations within the rankings after ending outright third on the Australian Open to maneuver to 35, having been, together with Smith, fitted for an Olympic uniform within the lead-up to the match, one of many uncommon occasions {the golfing} stars can be found to crew officers.
Day has but to make any dedication to going to the Olympics. He withdrew from the Video games in 2016 in Rio, as did Adam Scott, citing considerations over the zika virus.
He was in talks with Australian golf officers to return residence this 12 months amid his resurgence however cited the delivery of his fifth little one in September as a complicating issue earlier than selecting to play in Woods’ occasion.
Day has not performed within the Australian Open since 2017.
Lee made clear his purpose was to get to the Olympics.
“I usually are likely to play effectively after I must make one thing or I must do one thing to get in a match, so I’m actually excited for that,” he stated.
“That will be a real honour to play for Australia.”
The Australian locations for the Paris Olympics might be determined based on the world rankings at June 17 for males and June 24 for girls. The highest 15 gamers on the planet all qualify, with a most of two spots per nation for these ranked decrease to fill out the 120-player area, 60 in every of the lads’s and ladies’s occasions.
AUSTRALIAN WORLD RANKINGS (inside prime 100)
19 – Jason Day
23- Cameron Smith
35- Min Woo Lee
43- Cameron Davis
44 – Adam Scott
67 – Lucas Herbert