Jason Day explains tough year on PGA Tour: "It's nothing to do with the clubs"

Former world number one Jason Day laid bare his frustrations with a 'long and tough' season on the PGA Tour after the first round of the 2026 Memorial Tournament. 

Day started the year in fine fashion by sharing second place at The American Express in January. 

But ever since then the Australian, who has won 13 times on the PGA Tour, has struggled significantly.

Although the 2015 PGA Championship winner has only missed two cuts, he has cracked the top 10 just once. 

"To be honest, I would say that a lot of the stress and pressure that I'm feeling is because I can't get the ball on the green," Day told reporters after signing for a two-over 74 at Muirfield Village.

"I'm playing to miss a shot instead of playing to a target, just because I don't know what the ball's going to really do once it comes off the club face."

Day, who last won at the 2023 AT&T Byron Nelson, has been tinkering with his equipment all season but he insists the struggles is between his ears.

This week, the 38-year-old is back in his V3 Avoda prototype irons.

"It's nothing to do with the clubs," Day added. 

"It's all kind of me in a sense that when you're fighting something, it's really hard to trust it."

Day added: "Luke, my caddie, is telling me: 'Put a good story on it', which means that, like, you're trying to tell yourself a good story to get yourself into the shot and visualise. 

"And when you're hitting it this way, it's really hard to kind of see that story and tell yourself and really trust and believe in it.

"So I think at some point I'll get beyond it. It's really hard to be patient right now because every tournament I typically have three decent rounds and one bad round that just puts me out of the tournament. 

"I'm in the 30 to 60 finish position-wise. It's been a tough year."

Watch Day explain the situation here:

Wyndham Clark, J.J. Spaun, Tommy Fleetwood and Ryan Gerard shared the lead after 18 holes at the penultimate signature event of the season. 

Masters champion Rory McIlroy had to settle for a one-under 71. 

World number one Scottie Scheffler signed for a 73. 

His opening round contained a heated exchange with his caddie, Ted Scott, after he found the water at the 16th hole.