Priest Evin
Jason Day has revealed the secret culture of the Masters he describes as heaven on the turf, which helps the former world No 1 achieve a state of nirvana in front of golf’s hottest major.
The former world No.1 is preparing for his 15th Masters, and has always been among the first contenders to set foot at Augusta National during Masters week. She arrives eight days before the final round and begins her quest for the green jacket in earnest, hitting her first shot Saturday afternoon minutes after the winning putt dropped in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship.
As the crowd of female students leaves the area, Day and his commander drive down 10th street as the late afternoon sun breaks through the tall Augusta pines. The pink azaleas are always in full bloom and, most years, Day can only hear the birds chirping.
“That Saturday, it would be like if you died and went to heaven and you were up there playing golf,” Day said. “Normally, I’ll play the ninth and there won’t be a single person. It’s the most peaceful nine holes you can have on the golf course all year. It’s magical.”
Masters is famous for its many traditions, but this is the Day.
Eagle-eyed golf fans may know that the large green number emblazoned on the distinctive white overalls worn by Augusta caddies corresponds to their golfer’s entry order. Day’s bagman, close mate Luke Reardon, was No.5 caddy last year and No.2 in 2024.
The 38-year-old Day joins 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott, along with 2020 runner-up Cameron Smith and Min Woo Lee as the four Australians in the field.
Preparation for the day continues with daily rounds of nine holes from Sunday to Tuesday before his wife and children take part in the three-on-one tournament on Wednesday.
In between training, you’ll find Day and his family holed up in their five-star house parked nearby.
“I go from the course to the bus and back, that’s it,” Day said. “I spend time with my family. My therapy (gear) is there too: cold plunge, sauna, steam bath and exercise mats. I’m very involved in those things because I’m at a time in my career where I need to take care of my body for a long time. I have one bed (like his Ohio house) and with my family in close quarters, I feel like home.”
It is hard to believe that Day is approaching 40, and that it has been 15 years since the 23-year-old version stayed in the same house and, on the eve of the 2011 Masters, he told his team with emotion that he intended to leave professional golf. He had one PGA Tour win to his name and was not enjoying the game. Day’s team talked him into at least getting organized and by Sunday he finished second.
Since that career-best Masters result, Day has finished third in 2013 – when he surrendered the late lead to Scott – while he has also shared 10th (2016), fifth (2019) and eighth (2025).
Day could easily explain his poor Masters results between 2020 and 2024: he dropped to No. 175 in the world and his iron play was not up to Augusta National standards.
“I didn’t hit my irons as high as I would have liked for four years,” Day said. “Around Augusta, the top of your iron shots coming into the green needs to be high to stop the ball. My fairways dropped a lot. I’ve worked on that lately and got my top back to about 130 feet.”
Day’s consistent form on the PGA Tour includes a tie for second in his season opener in the California desert in January and a tie for sixth at the recent Houston Open. That was his last shot before Augusta.
The world number 41 is hoping to add a runner-up finish to his 2015 PGA Championship haul – and a second green jacket for Australia.
“I’ve had success at Augusta, and I’d like to break through at some point,” Day said. “I’m very hungry. Trying to win the Masters is the biggest thing on my mind every year. I think I have the game to do it. Sorry, I shouldn’t say, ‘I think’; I know I have the game.
“I have experience. If I give myself a chance and take some, I have a good feeling I can win.”
Such a win would come with a lifetime invitation to the Masters and a $US4.2 million ($6.1 million) winner’s check. And another advantage – the registration badge of the number 1 player is reserved for the champion of the previous year and his staff.
It’s the only way for the Saturday tradition to be better.
