Jason Day moves to second in world golf rankings

Jason Day has edged back ahead of Rory McIlroy to take second place in the world rankings, courtesy of a tie for 11th place in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

McIlroy moved up to second ahead of the Australian at the start of the month, but after kicking off his season with two tournaments in the Gulf, the Irishman was inactive last week.

Still atop the rankings is young American Jordan Spieth, who is almost two points clear of Day and he looks likely to stay there until the first of the year's majors, the Masters, at the start of April.

The only other change to the top 10 sees South African Branden Grace, who won in Qatar at the end of January, ease ahead of US veteran Jim Furyk for 10th place.

Australia's Adam Scott is ranked in 19th position.

Jason Day and Adam Scott are being chased to tee off in big Gold Coast tournament

THE Australian PGA Championship could boast all of the nation’s big guns when it is staged on the Gold Coast in December.

It has been confirmed that this year’s PGA will be played from December 1 to 4 at Royal Pines Resort and there is every chance that local superstars Jason Day and Adam Scott could be teeing off.

A repositioning of the PGA on the international roster means the event now has a prime position. At this stage, and amid whispers that the Masters will not be played this year, the Australian schedule looks like being the Australian Open (Royal Sydney) at dates to be confirmed, the World Cup (Kingston Heath) November 24 to 27, then the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines Resort from ­December 1 to 4.

The fact the World Cup, won by Day and Scott in 2013, is scheduled for the week before the PGA could carry major bonuses for the Gold Coast, according to PGA of Australia chief Brian Thorburn.

“We have far more favourable dates for the PGA this year,” Thorburn said.

“Hosting tournaments of the calibre of the World Cup and Australian PGA Championship in back-to-back weeks is a real coup for Aussie golf fans as the fields assembled for each tournament will be some of the best seen in Australia in recent times.”

Last year the PGA was hit by the absence of Day, Scott, Marc Leishman, Steve Bowditch and Open winner Matt Jones.

Bowditch and Leishman played the Nedlands Masters in South Africa, Scott in Tiger Woods’ Hero Challenge in the Bahamas while Day stayed in America for the birth of his second child.

The tournament suffered quality-wise as a result.

“There were unique circumstances last year that affected a number of the players,” Thorburn said.

“This year we won’t be up against the Nedbank because it has moved on the schedule.

“So we have a far more favourable date against international tournaments as well as the advantage of being after the World Cup.

“We’re doing everything we can to persuade Jason, Adam, Marc, Steve, Matt Jones – as many as we can get – to play at Royal Pines.”

Scott played in the first two PGAs at Royal Pines, winning the first in 2013, then finishing runner-up, beaten in a seven-hole playoff by Greg Chalmers the next year. The PGA was worth $1.75 million last year and will again be co-sanctioned by the Australasian and European PGA Tours.

The PGA will also benefit from its position at the beginning of the European Tour’s 2017 schedule with players hoping to kick-start their season Down Under.

“While players always enjoy the sights of the Gold Coast, on the course it’s serious business with European Tour players hoping to get an early boost on the Race to Dubai and Aussie players looking to earn a ticket on to one of the biggest tours in the world,” added Thorburn.