Wednesday 6 April 2016 10:53, UK
Jason Day admits feeling 'comfortable' as the word's No 1 golfer but does not accept he is the favourite to the first major championship of the year, at Augusta.
The 28-year-old Australian arrives at the Masters as the highest-ranked player in the game, having already won twice on the PGA Tour during the early months of 2016.
His victory at the WGC Dell Match Play tournament in Texas last month moved Day back to No 1, following one week on top spot during September of last year.
He has won six of his last 13 starts but is adamant about what his status should be in Georgia: "To be honest, I don't think I'm the favourite this week.
"As you know, there's a lot of people out there that can play well this week and win. Jordan (Spieth), Rory (McIlroy) and Henrik (Stenson), look how he's playing lately, and even Phil (Mickelson) is a favourite here.
"There are so many players that can win around here, and there's not just one heavy favourite this week, which is fantastic. I think it's good for the game of golf and I think it's good for this tournament, as well."
As for his current ranking, he added: "I feel comfortable with where I'm at, walking around the grounds, No 1 in the world, it's a good feeling.
"But I know that I can't take it for granted, because obviously in this game, things can change pretty quickly. It's such a competitive sport now and so many guys can win, and it's so tough to win. But I do feel good with how I'm playing right now and where I'm at mentally and physically."
Day is teeing-up at the Masters for a sixth time, having posted a brace of top-three finishes in the past, including a joint runner-up behind Charl Schwartzel in 2011.
Speaking about a recent back injury, the Australian said: "It's pretty much something I've been dealing with ever since I was a 13‑year‑old kid.
"You can walk up the range here and ask how many players have back problems and probably a good percentage of them do.
"It's nothing new. It's the same old bulged disc that I've always had, but every now and then, it flares up and you just can't do anything about it.
"I've just got to keep on top of what I need to do to keep myself strong and fit and ready to go play tournaments, and then hopefully over time, strengthening it each and every year. If I maintain that, then slowly it will go away.
There are so many players that can win around here, and there's not just one heavy favourite this week.
"Right now, I'm not even thinking about it because I don't have any problems at all. My back is fine and health is fine and everything's great."
And he believes the key to performing well this week is to remain as relaxed as possible: "This has been a tournament in the past that I've tried too hard and shot myself out of the tournament
"I've just got to kind of relax, understand that I have a certain process that I go through each tournament to get ready to compete and I need to stick to that.
"I've got to understand that the first few years I just enjoyed myself. I had a lot of fun here. It's something I've always wanted to play in as a young kid and I enjoy coming here and I enjoy being on the grounds and playing the tournament.
"And then as time went on, everyone would keep on asking me: When are you going to win it and how are you going to win it and all that stuff?
"I guess I thought about it and felt 'Okay, I've got to kind of force it this year' and that's when I started missing stuff and making mistakes and mental errors."
