Tiger Woods gave a telling response to Jason Day when he was asked about his longevity at the top of the sport.

Woods is arguably the greatest golfer of all-time having dominated the PGA in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The 48-year-old also showed his incredible physical and mental ability when he won his 15th major at the Masters in 2019 – over a decade on from his previous triumph in one of the big four championships.

During his prime years, Woods spent over a total of 683 weeks as the No. 1 ranked star in the world, and was asked by Day for his mindset behind his incredible success. Speaking with Smylie Kaufman on his podcast, Day shared a moment he spent with Woods that has lasted long in his memory.

Day revealed he asked Woods: “What kept you at number one for so long?” To which Woods replied: “I’m not as talented as you, so I had to work harder.” Taking it at face value that Woods wasn’t quipping about Day being the more naturally gifted golfer, Day called it “a load of crap, he’s way more talented than me!”

The Australian turned professional in 2006 when Woods was already a ten-time major champion. The 36-year-old has one major title to his name – the 2015 PGA Championship – and has finished 2nd and T2 in all of the other three majors, including in the 2023 Open when he finished tied with four other players six shots behind Brian Harman.

Day reflected on his near year-long spell at No. 1 in 2015 and 2016, where alongside his PGA Championship victory, he won eight of his 13 PGA Tour wins. He revealed the physical shape he was keeping himself in, spending plenty of time in the gym and keeping himself focused.

Tiger Woods - Jason Day

Woods and Day are well-known to each other on the course ( 

Image:

PGA TOUR)

“In 2015, 2016 when I was the best, I was doing super sets of everything,” Day said. “I was training to failure, I was doing two-a-days (in the gym), I was eating chicken and broccoli for every meal of the day.”

Adding on the effects his training had on his golf, Day continued: “I never worked on technique… it was all target orientated and then the injuries obviously came.” Kaufman interjected by comparing Day’s story to a similar one of Woods as he asked whether the Aussie saw himself mirrored in the legend’s journey.

“To get to the best it was a lifestyle choice,” Day said. “Some of these other guys can do it, like a Dustin Johnson and some of these other guys can naturally get to No. 1… They don’t practice as hard as you or I. They’re just kind of naturally gifted in a way that they can do it and it just looks like it doesn’t affect their lives as much. And then there’s people like me, and even Tiger for instance,” he added.

“What he did great, was that he matched great technique with unbelievable work ethic and also a great mental game. And when you have that three-prong effect, it’s just going to give success.”