What Kyrgios can learn from Day and Spieth

Brendan Bradford
and others
• 4 min read
Day Spieth

Jordan Speith’s ball was a little closer to the hole, but he still had a difficult putt to make birdie and keep the pressure on the Australian.

High drama stuff after four days of golf.

Spieth watched on as Day’s putt slid just to the left of the cup, leaving an easy shot for par.

The Aussie had one hand on the Wanamaker Trophy and Spieth’s charge to a third major victory this year was halted in its tracks.

Like The Open a month before, he would fall just short.

It must have been a moment of bitter realisation for the 22-year-old.

But instead of throwing a tantrum, Spieth was seen on TV giving Day a thumbs-up as he walked off to take his shot.

Left with a tap-in, Day asked if he could go ahead and finish the hole, but the Queenslander would’ve interfered with Spieth’s shot.

“I’m right where your feet would be,” said Spieth.

“No worries, I’ll wait for ya,” replied Day.

“Thanks.”

 

The simple interaction was a breath of fresh air after a torrid week in which the Australian sporting headlines were dominated by Nick Kyrgios’ “banged your girlfriend” sledge to Stan Wawrinka.

Spieth is not quite two years older than Kyrgios, but has achieved far more than Australian tennis’ newest brat has even come close to.

The “he’s only 20, give him a break” excuse wears thin when you look at Spieth’s reaction to conceding the PGA Championship.

Kyrgios' compatriot Jason Day had a far tougher upbringing than Kyrgios as well. His dad died when he was 12 which sent the youngster off the rails. By his mid-teens he was an alcoholic.

Sitting with the Wanamaker Trophy at Whistling Pines, he remembered his mum being so poor she used to cut the grass with a knife because they couldn't afford a lawnmower.

In 2013 he lost eight family members in the Philippines in Typhoon Haiyan.

He battles with a condition that saw him collapse during the US Open this year.

There were tough moments on his road to the top - as a teenager he told his coach to f**k off.

But he knew he had to grow up quickly. He apologised to that coach, who became his caddie and was there on the 18th hole in Wisconsin as Day wiped away tears before tapping in for his debut major.

There are plenty of people in the know who say Kyrgios is set to win a Grand Slam tournament at some stage in his career, but after his petulant outburst and lack of remorse following the Wawrinka sledge, don’t expect the same outpouring of goodwill that Day was greeted with this week.

As expected, there was a thick Australian accent to the congratulations, but the tweets and well-wishers from fellow golfers was truly amazing.

Will Kyrgios get this same level of support from players on tour when he finally wins something?

Doubt it.

 

Author(s)
Brendan Bradford