Wednesday 22 March 2017 22:03, UK
Jason Day has withdrawn from the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play after revealing his mother is terminally ill with lung cancer.
The defending champion conceded his opening group match to Pat Perez after just six holes at Austin Country Club, prompting speculation that he had suffered yet another injury setback just two weeks before the Masters.
But an emotional Day headed straight to the media centre and explained that he "could not comprehend being on the golf course" while his mother is battling such a serious illness.
Day, who was just 12 years of age when he lost his father to cancer, announced he would be withdrawing from the tournament to be with his mother, Dening, who will undergo surgery on Friday.
Three months ago, she had been given approximately a year to live by doctors in Australia, although Day revealed that experts in the United States had given her a more positive diagnosis.
"My mom has been here for a while, and she has lung cancer," said the world No 3. "At the start of the year she was diagnosed with 12 months to live, but 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 gone through.
"I'm glad I brought her over here, and it's been really hard to play golf lately. It's been very, very emotional, as you can tell. I've already gone through it once with my dad so I know how it feels, and it's hard enough to see another one go through it.
"So as of now I'm going to try to be back there with my mom for surgery and make sure everything goes right with her.
"It's been a very, very hard time for me to even be thinking about playing golf. And emotionally it's been wearing on me for a while. And I know my mom says not to let it get to me, but it really has.
"So I just need some time away with her to make sure that everything goes well because this has been very, very tough for me. So I'm going to do my best and try and be there the best I can for her because she is the reason that I'm playing golf today. And family is first and it's just a hard time.
"I didn't want to leave you guys out in the dust and try and speculate what was going on with me and my game and how I felt, if it was my back or anything. But I just wanted to make sure and get it out there that this is the reason why I've obviously pulled out this week.
"I'm hoping for a speedy recovery for her, and we can get this behind us and she can live a long, long life."
