Jason Day has delivered a hammer blow to fellow Queenslander Cameron Smith’s Olympic ambitions, with the Australian No.1 declaring “I’m in” and that it was a “mistake” to skip the 2016 Video games in Rio.
It leaves Smith behind Day and fellow Aussies Min Woo Lee and Cam Davis on this planet rankings pecking order regardless of an anticipated bump from his strong exhibiting at Augusta. Smith dropped to 68 on this planet earlier than the Masters, figuring out he wanted large showings on the first three majors to be one of many two top-ranked Australians on the phrase rankings to make it to Paris.
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Day skipped the 2016 Olympics regardless of qualifying and it had been unclear whether or not he maintained ambitions to signify his nation amid his profession resurgence having dropped out of the world’s prime 150 in 2022.
However Day, who closed with a three-under 69 to document a top-30 end at Augusta, conceded he “ought to have gone” to Rio and didn’t wish to miss out this time.
“I’ll play. If I’m in, I’ll play for certain. I’m wanting ahead to it,” Day mentioned after carding a powerful three-under 69 within the fourth spherical at Augusta.
“I believe I made a little bit of a mistake not happening to Rio, although a part of it was household associated. I sort of missed out on that, and I in all probability ought to have gone. But when I get the chance, I’m wanting ahead to going.”
Day mentioned he had no choice for a enjoying companion, with Lee, ranked 32, the person most certainly to affix him. A top-10 end for Cam Davis at simply his second Masters is ready to spice up him from 62 and the third man within the pecking order.
Veteran Adam Scott, who completed within the prime 25 at Augusta, is ranked increased than Davis however has declared he received’t be going to Paris.
Day, ranked 21, made the purpose that Smith, regardless of a fifth top-10 end in 5 appearances at Augusta, would wish to play nicely once more on the US Open and PGA earlier than the Olympic qualification cut-off to affix him.
“I believe Min Woo is enjoying good strong golf and clearly Smithy, enjoying in LIV you don’t get world rating factors. He must play nicely within the main championships, attempting to shoot himself up the leaderboard,” Day mentioned.
Lee, who might play along with his sister Minjee on the Olympics, mentioned attending to Paris was, outdoors profitable a significant, his principal purpose in 2023 and he was fitted for an Olympic uniform in Sydney late final yr.
“To rep Australia … whenever you’re knowledgeable, you don’t actually get to signify the Australian aspect,” he mentioned after a closing three-under 69 at Augusta Nationwide.
“Clearly, each week, week in and week out you signify Aus, however whenever you’re an newbie, I obtained to play for Australia a variety of occasions, so I do miss placing on the inexperienced and gold – clearly Jason is a enjoying companion and a teammate – that can be actually particular.
“My sister goes to be in there, too, so it will likely be an unbelievable expertise. Hopefully, it could actually keep this fashion and I can play.”