Day explained his decision to reporters, saying that he wishes to be with his mother, who is to begin treatment for lung cancer. He told reporters the following:
My mum has lung cancer. She had all the tests done in Australia and the doc said she was terminal and only had 12 months to live at the start of the year. The diagnosis is much better being over here.
She’s going in for surgery this Friday and it’s really hard to even comprehend being on the golf course right now because of what she’s going through.
Day cites his mother Dening as the main reason he plays golf, and is now taking a break from the sport to aid her recovery. Day lost his father to stomach cancer when the world number one was just 12 years of age.
Jason Day explains the reason behind conceding his match @DellMatchPlay. pic.twitter.com/XtYSiogt1r
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 22, 2017
After his first major victory, in 2015, Day explained the enormous impact his mother has had on his career:
Without my mom’s sacrifice, there is no doubt I would not have made it.
Her and my sisters did so much for me so I could have the chance to succeed and I will forever be grateful.
There is no telling where I would have ended up. Maybe jail. Maybe dead. But she made sure that wasn’t my path.
Day's break from the sport may incorporate the Masters at Augusta, which begins on April 6th, although Day's manager did confirm that he hopes to play.
