They say breaking up is the hardest thing to do. Apparently, that notion applies to major champions as well. On Wednesday at the BMW Championship, Jason Day revealed that he and longtime caddie Colin Swatton have parted ways after 11 years.
The news shocked the golf world given the pair’s relationship on and off the course. Swatton not only has been on the Aussie’s bag since he turned pro, he’s also his swing coach and lifelong mentor.
However, this year has been a struggle for the former World No. 1 with his last win coming at the 2016 Players Championship. While Swatton will remain his coach, inside the ropes, Day felt like it was time for a change and wasn’t afraid to get personal when asked about it.
“I never wanted it to turn into a toxic relationship where he’s taken me from where I am as a 12-year-old kid to where I am today and I’m not talking to him anymore,” Day said at his BMW Championship presser. “I was worried if I kept it going, it was going to head that way, and I love him too much to have him not in my life because of how special he is to me.”
Have it confirmed @JDayGolf is making a change on the bag this week @BMWchamps will have Luke Reardon caddy for him
— George Savaricas (@GeorgeSavaricas) September 13, 2017
Day becomes the third big-name player in the last three months to split with their longtime caddies, joining the likes of Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson.
“Obviously, this is a very hard time for both of us,” said Day. “It’s hard because we’ve been a team for so long. Like I said, he was an amazing caddie, amazing coach, amazing person. He’s done pretty much everything he can to get me where I’m going. He’s been a father figure for me ever since I was a kid, and I wanted to make sure that it’s still there.”
Instead, Day will have friend and former high school roommate Luke Reardon on the bag this week during the third leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs at Conway Farms, a course on which Day won by six shots back in 2015 during an event that included rounds of 61 and 63.
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