By Howard Salkow

Australian golf is back on top of the world following Jason Day’s three-shot victory over American Jordan Spieth in the final major of the year, the PGA Championship at Whistling Straights. 

This is Day’s first major championship after falling short in the other three major championships – the US and British Opens and the Masters – when he led into the final round.

Day is the fifth Australian to win the PGA Championship – following Jim Ferrier (1947), David Graham (1979), Wayne Grady (1990) and Steve Elkington (1995) – and the first Australian in two years to win a major after Adam Scott’s 2013 Masters triumph at Augusta.

It was an emotional Day who did not hold back the tears as the win sunk in. He’s had his highs and lows, and few will forget his struggle with vertigo a few weeks ago.This is a day (no pun intended) Australian golf needs to cherish, especially the golfers of tomorrow. Our youth both here in Port Douglas, who hone their game at our two impressive golf courses – the Sheraton Mirage and Palmer Sea Reef – and across the country, need to endorse this triumph and strive to achieve what so many others have done.

Day and Scott are quintessential role models. They take the good with the bad, they acknowledge this is one of the most challenging sports and accept there’ll be occasions when you post a score in the 80s. 

We don’t see clubs thrown into the ‘drink’ – thanks for the antics, John Daly – or other eccentricities that would make members of the Royal and Ancient at St. Andrews in Scotland spill their choice whiskey in horror.

It’s this demeanour that needs to be recognised and if Australia can continue to produce the Jason Days of this world, we can look forward to many more years at the top of world golf.