Jason Day backed to shine in 2018 by former Aussie icon

Jason Day has been backed to put a disappointing 2017 behind him and become world number one again in the new year.

Day had a year to forget when failing to pick up a single win, which resulted in him dropping to 12th in the world ranking.

Injuries did not help his cause, while his mother suffering a serious illness also distracted the Australian and forced him to focus on family matters rather than golf.

However Aussie golf icon Jack Newton is backing Day to put all his problems behind him and return to the top of his game in 2018.

“He hasn’t played enough golf. He’s had all kinds of things going on with his body,” he told AAP at the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic.

Newton said Day at his best was superior to world No.2 Jordan Spieth but acknowledged American Johnson deservingly held the top spot.

“I think he (Day) can get back to No.1. I think he’s got Spieth covered,” he said. “In the PGA (Championship 2015) that he won, he was hitting it 30 yards past Spieth.

“Day’s a good putter, he’s a long hitter. He can hit a lot of really good shots. He’s quite capable of getting back to No.1, although I think Dustin Johnson’s going to be a hard man to roll.

“Dustin Johnson, when he wants to let one go, he hits it 370 (yards). When he wants to just get in one the fairway, it goes 340. He never had a good short game, but he’s got a good short game now.”

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