Search

show me:

Day, Scott to kick off PGA season in Korea

3 minute read

Australian former world No.1s Jason Day and Adam Scott are among the US PGA Tour stars kicking off their 2019 wraparound season at this week's CJ Cup in Korea.

JASON DAY of Australia plays in the second round of the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges in Jeju, South Korea.
JASON DAY of Australia plays in the second round of the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges in Jeju, South Korea. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty Images

An irritated Jason Day will kick off a new US PGA Tour campaign at the CJ Cup in Korea this week fuelled by the disappointing end to his promising 2018 season.

The former world No.1 began last season with a victory at Torrey Pines in his first start of 2018 before adding another US Tour title in May.

The Queenslander registered just one top 10 after the Players Championship in May and walked off the season-ending Tour Championship in September with a bad taste in his mouth.

But a three-week off-season has him refocused, with Day aiming to hit the ground running at the 78-man, $US9.5 million ($A13.34m) CJ Cup on Jeju island.

"I've got to be better; plain and simple," Day told AAP.

"I won twice but I was disappointing in the second half of last season.

"I've had some time off; got away from golf a little bit and I feel some hunger coming back."

Day's fellow Australian Marc Leishman will tee off at the CJ Cup fresh off his five-shot win at last week's CIMB Classic in Malaysia.

Leishman, who narrowly lost in a playoff to CJ Cup winner Justin Thomas last year, is determined to back up his fourth US Tour title having recorded lacklustre results after previous victories.

The 34-year-old has only finished in the top 10 once in the three tournaments immediately after hoisting a US Tour trophy.

"I feel I'm certainly a good enough player now to manage the come-down from a win and switch back on for the next tournament," Leishman said.

"I worked pretty hard in the weeks leading up to Malaysia and I feel I've got my game in a good spot to take advantage of some good play."

Like Day, fellow former world No.1 Adam Scott will make his 2019 season debut at Korea's Nine Bridges golf course.

Scott will be joined by fellow Queenslanders Cameron Smith and Rod Pampling.

Headlining the field is defending champion and world No.4 Thomas, Japanese ace Hideki Matsuyama and three-time major winner Brooks Koepka.

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au