Heading into the weekend at the 2025 Masters, the leaderboard is filled with superstars, including Jason Day, who is not intimidated by his fellow competitors. Day will start the third round four shots behind leader Justin Rose, with names like Rory McIlroy, Bryson DeChambeau, and Scottie Scheffler sitting between him and the lead. Despite never winning a Masters, Day has extensive experience at Augusta National and shared a blunt message for anyone who thinks the tournament is already over.
During a press conference, Day emphasized the importance of the back nine during the final round of the Masters, noting that anything can happen in those crucial holes. He also mentioned that history shows certain players tend to struggle on the back nine, giving him hope of solidifying his position in the tournament. Without mentioning specific players who have struggled in the past, Day expressed his belief that he could become only the second Australian to win the Masters.
Recent Masters Sunday collapses have been a common occurrence over the years, with players crumbling under pressure in the final round. Jordan Spieth, who won the Masters in 2015, has also experienced struggles on the back nine, but he is currently ten shots back heading into Round 3. Rory McIlroy, another strong contender, has a history of unfortunate events on Masters Sunday, despite coming close to winning the tournament in the past.
Day’s Masters history includes a T2 finish in 2011, where he outperformed McIlroy, who had a challenging final round. He also finished third in 2013 and T10 in 2016, following his PGA Championship win. Day has faced injuries over the years, leading to missed cuts in 2020 and 2021, as well as not participating in 2022. However, he has experienced a career resurgence in recent years, with significant improvements in his results, including a T39 in 2023 and a T30 in 2024.
In 2023, Day captured his 13th PGA Tour victory at the AT&T Byron Nelson, ending a five-year win drought. He also finished T2 at the Open Championship that year, indicating a return to form. With his current standings at the Masters, Day is on track for another high finish. The question on everyone’s mind is whether he can secure his second major title, a decade after his first. Fans will have to wait until the final round on Sunday to see if Day can emerge victorious at the prestigious tournament.
