Australian Jason Day's Masters debut in 2011 was memorable

Jason Day felt like an afterthought in the so-called “youth group” after the first round of the 2011 Masters.

It was a threesome that featured no one over the age of 23 (Rory McIlroy was 21, Rickie Fowler 22 and Day 23).

McIlroy ended up being the first-round co-leader with 65, Fowler shot 70 and Day, who was playing in his first Masters, as was Fowler, had 72.

As he met the media behind the 18th green after that round, Day raved about the play of McIlroy and said he hoped one day to get a standing ovation at the 18th green, as McIlroy had minutes before.

He also said he might have to pay someone in the gallery to shout his name during the second round because he was so little-known.

At the end of the next day, everyone knew Day’s name after his second-round 64.

He finished tied for second place after a back-nine charge in the final round that featured birdies on Nos. 12, 13, 17 and 18. He shot 4-under-par 32 for the side and 68 for the closing round.

As it turned out, the “old man” in the “youth group” easily outdistanced his rivals. McIlroy wilted to a final-round 80 and tied for 15th, and Fowler followed his opening 70 with 69-76-74 to finish in a tie for 38th place.

Day shot 72-64-72-68 for 12-under 276, which broke the record for the lowest 72-hole score by a Masters rookie.

“I had a lot of help,” Day said. “Nick Faldo helped me a lot. I had a caddie (Col Swatton) that’s been caddying for 20 years, He helped me out a lot when I came out, and obviously we had a game plan at the start of the week and we stuck to it, and it worked out great.

“It was my first Masters experience, but I felt like I prepared as best I could. I feel like it’s all about preparation, exactly where you need to place the ball, knowing that your body is working great. Just a number of little things that came together to make the week go great.”

Part of that preparation for Day involved carrying a yardage book, especially during the practice rounds when he was just getting to know the course.

“I never used to carry a yardage book,” he said. “I let Col do the yardages. But getting back to the preparation, I’d go around to each hole, especially in the practice rounds and I’d sit down and say, ‘For these pins I’d hit it here.’ I knew exactly every time I stood up on the green or tee or fairway exactly where I needed to hit it.

“Giving 100 percent and just focusing on trying to place my ball where I needed to, and focusing on that alone just took away the anxiety,” he said. “I didn’t focus on anything else at all.”

Day said he left Augusta National feeling that he did everything in his power to join Gene Sarazen (1935) and Fuzzy Zoeller (1979) as a Masters winner in his first appearance. Horton Smith also won in his first start, but it came in the inaugural Masters of 1934.

“Obviously I was nervous starting out on the final day there,” Day said. “But I just knew if I hung around, just hang around, I would come close.”

Now he can’t wait to return to what he calls his favorite course.

“If you think about Augusta and you get there (for the first time), it’s 100 times better,” Day said. “Everything down to the driving range to the locker room. The clubhouse is unbelievable. The patrons are great. They are very respectful.

“The place is immaculate; not one blade of grass is out of place,” Day said. “Everything is so professionally done. It’s an amazing place, it really is.”

Reach David Westin at (706) 823-3224