ORLANDO, FLORIDA (AP) – On Wednesday, Jason Day pulled out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the third time in four years, but this time it wasn’t due to injury.
Dening, Day’s mother, died on Wednesday night following a five-year fight with lung cancer, according to Day.
“My mother peacefully left us last night,” Day added. “We are heartbroken, but appreciative for the blessing of her living with us full-time for the past almost two years. She battled till she exhaled her last breath. I will be always grateful to her for the sacrifices she made in order for me to succeed and for the person she helped me become. We will all miss her terribly.
“After Jason’s father, Alvin, died of stomach cancer when Jason was only 12 years old, Dening Day assumed the role of primary parent. Dening was given a year to live by physicians in Australia when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer in late 2016. Jason, one of Dening’s three children, flew her to the United States in March 2017, where she underwent surgery and received a much better prognosis.
Around that time, Day pulled out of the WGC Match Play, claiming that it was difficult to concentrate on golf when his mother’s health was in risk.
“It had a big impact on me,” Day stated at the time. “I know mom was sitting there thinking, ‘No, you go ahead and play,’ but I said, ‘No, you go ahead and play.’ Don’t worry about me; I won’t be able to do it.”
Day, who is ranked 92nd, is attempting to make a late push into the Masters, which he hasn’t missed since his first T-2 in 2011. But, as Day has already emphasized, family comes first.
It’s uncertain whether Day will compete in the Players Championship next week.
