Alvyn Day, who gave Jason his start in golf, died of cancer when Day was 12, and one of his final requests was that his son spread some of his ashes at Augusta National if Day were to ever played there.
The 24-year-old Day tied for second this year in his debut at the Masters, but he was not able to consider his father's request because the ashes were at his mother's home in Brisbane.
"It's a plan but obviously if I don't get clearance from Augusta, I am not going to do it," Day said last week at the Australian PGA Championship. "That was one of my dad's wishes and if I was allowed to do it, that would be great. Obviously, I know how the rules are at Augusta, it would be probably very unlikely, but we will see how it goes."
We go for fifty minutes, so apologies in advance. If you like podcasts, you can (and should) get Rod's free podcast on itunes. He has always gets great guests and asks sharp questions.
Thanks to Brian Keogh for tweeting (and apologizing in advance) for the bagpipe-accompanied Brian Morgan photos of Trump International Scotland. I just can't take my eyes off the green carpet walkway on the uphill par-3 with the burn to the right...
''Look, it wasn't TV Ringside or anything,'' said Paul Galli, Ogilvy's manager. ''I wasn't there, but from what I've been told, it's a storm in a teacup. There were a few words spoken. They will be fine. I've got no doubt they can come together at the [Australian] Masters in a few weeks, have a beer and move on.''
But former US PGA Tour professional Paul Gow said it was time Allenby bit his lip in pressure situations.
"I think he acts like a five-year-old when he plays golf," Gow said in his weekly Playing Around podcast with Channel 10 commentator Luke Elvy.
"He has to understand he plays golf for a living. He was in a team environment and to throw out those comments was really immature.
"It's probably time for Robert to grow up, let his clubs do the talking because he's a really, really good player. With this attitude, he will probably never win a major."
Allenby and Ogilvy exchanged words at the Hyatt Coolum on Queensland's Sunshine Coast where the pair were playing in the Australian PGA with the former believed to have challenged his long-time friend to take the matter outside.
The incident took place in the village square at the Hyatt, where players, caddies, family members and the public were celebrating Greg Chalmers's victory earlier that day. At least one glass was broken before Allenby, who lost the play-off at the PGA that day to Chalmers, walked away, prompting Bronx cheers from a section of those in attendance.
Ah that must have really soothed his ego.
Ogilvy responded with a tweet that read: "Warms the heart to see Robert playing so well this week." Ogilvy later told media the tweet was genuine, although Allenby is believed to have taken offence at what he felt was a piece of sarcasm. It is understood he questioned Ogilvy over the tweet and his Victorian counterpart responded by asking why Allenby refused to take responsibility for his play.
The conversation degenerated to the point where a glass was broken and an offer was made to take the matter outside.
Allenby left the country but will be back for the Australian Masters at Victoria in a few weeks. Victoria, a splendid design, is Ogilvy's boyhood home course.
And when Allenby sauntered over to Ogilvy's table and sat down at around 9.15pm on Sunday night, the 2006 US Open champion immediately made his dissatisfaction known.
He was overheard accusing Allenby of throwing him under the bus and openly questioned his character, which sent the four-time PGA winner into a rage.
Allenby inadvertently broke a wine glass and screamed 'do you want to go?' (fight), prompting Ogilvy, who was surrounded by seven friends, to get out of his chair in front of a captivated and stunned audience.
Common sense prevailed as Allenby softened his approach momentarily.
But the argument soon flared up again as Ogilvy unsuccessfully sought an apology.
The ugly stoush escalated once again as Allenby invited his adversary to meet him outside of the main square, to which Ogilvy quipped 'I'd like that'.
Allenby subsequently stormed out as Ogilvy sat calmly.
John Huggan interviews master ballstriker Peter O'Malley, who is calling it a career on the European Tour in part because his game doesn't fit the modern style of play emphasizing distance and putting. Interesting quote from Greg Turner here...
It's rare you get to read a major sponsor in golf criticize the tours, but as Bernie McGuire reports, Omega's Stephen Urquhart makes it clear he didn't care for the World Cup's value proposition.
If anyone knows what the final quote means, please feel free to translate.
While Allenby admitted that not winning an early match-up robbed him of some confidence, he said the end result could have been vastly different with a bit of luck.
He also admitted that the criticism of him had got under his skin.
"I guess everyone said I played poorly, but if you think about it, I played pretty good with Retief (Goosen) on the first day," he said.
"I hit a lot of great shots, but I didn't get the win.
"Everyone's making me feel like I'm playing s***."
Now where would they get that idea?! People!
Allenby said his failure to strike a blow at the Presidents Cup was not based solely on his form. It was a team event, he said, and as such he was relying on his teammates to perform.
"Sometimes it's not you. Sometimes other people are hitting you in the shin," he said.
"I'm just sick of people saying I'm in a slump.
"Go get your own slump. This is mine."
Even better, Allenby blamed his teammates for his Presidents Cup points shutout. Mark Hayes reports:
He said Retief Goosen had missed several makeable birdie putts after "I hit it inside 10 feet a few times" in Thursday's foursomes.
He said Y.E. Yang had left him playing alone too many times in the closing nine of Friday's fourball matches.
And that Geoff Ogilvy had "hit me in the tree three times off the tee and I had to chip out three times" in Saturday's foursomes.
That's probably what prompted this Ogilvy tweet Sunday:
Thanks to Darius Oliver for arranging a whirlwind two-day tour of the Mornington Peninsula region south of Melbourne, home to some of the sweetest golf terrain imaginable along with some world class designs and the exquisite vanilla slice in the lovely resort town of Sorrento.
There really is no terrain quite like it, so picture the Hampton's melded with a seemingly endless view of linksland, ancient trees, shrub-covered hills and you have some idea what the second home area for Melbourne's elite looks like.
The standout courses are featured, with images below or on the Photos page (the course website links below have much better shots than my quick snaps captured in between shots).
This Greg NormanBob Harrison design is held back only by a routing that finishes with a long, uphill stretch, and I'm told that this is more a product of the land planning done by another architect who divided up the plots at this 54-hole complex. Otherwise Harrison's mix of holes, green complexes and opportunities to hit some wildly fun run-up shots makes this the stand out design on the peninsula. The club has two other courses and from the glimpses I saw, they are no match for the world-class golf found on the Moonah. Norman gets the credit, but the vision behind the architecture, beautiful bunkering and overall fun is Harrison.
Stand out hole: short par-4 11th with a beautiful exposed sand area off the tee with a semi-blind second to a punchbowl green. Pictured in the slideshow below, which also shows the fantastic bunkers on this beautifully maintained example of firm, fast golf.
In immaculate condition, this Tom Doak-designed public course with input from Mike Clayton would be a standout gem in any other reason, but because of its checkered financial history, eccentric design touches and the more straightforward golf in the region gives the impression that this one is (unfortunately) is all too forgotten about. As with some of Doak's early work, a few greens struck me as too small for the contours and slope, but that shouldn't overshadow the many fascinating holes found here. Also note the small, temporary clubhouse. It's probably all most courses need: a pro shop, bathrooms and a nice place for a post-round beer.
Standout hole: the par-3 16th, played from the forward tees. A stunning Redan-like downhill three also features a "Doak" tee 235 yards away, which negates the fun of playing the run-up approach shot. (pictured in gallery)
This is the real heartbreaker of the region. The scale and beauty of the property is ideal for golf--think Royal Dornoch meets a heathland course). Unfortunately, the club has sold key plots of land to raise money, causing changes to the 9th hole and now the beautiful first. This should be a course on the top of all Peninsula lists but because of its lack of distance in the modern era and the recent changes to the property lines, will likely lose relevance with many. But even with the changes, Portsea still features plenty of super holes and should be celebrated for its smaller, more intimate scale as compared to the courses at The National. It's a must play and the kind of place you'd like to play everyday thanks to the variety, terrain and beauty.
Standout hole: short par-4 13th set atop a knob with a wide area to play to but trouble on all sides, with an exposed green making second shots tricky.
Technicaly closer to the sandbelt courses than the peninsula, this 36-hole facility features the longer South and more intimate North, which plays over ideal territory and featured what you'd expect to find in a region influenced by MacKenzie: interesting greens rewarding well thought out angles of attack and cleverness around the greens. It wasn't always that way, as Peter Thomson's work has been modified by Mike Clayton to better reflect the sandbelt values. A few more trees could be removed and the rough (so gladly seen after years of drought) trimmed, but all in all this is an ideal members course in that it will test an elite player while proving playable for the average member.
Standout holes: the par-3 second and par-3 14th are both stunning to look at and fun to hit shots too, while the par-4 18th makes for a solid finish.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning Drive, is co-host of The Ringer's ShackHouse is the author of eleven books.
