Day: Greg Norman wants me to be at No. 1 longer than him

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Jason Day has been No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking for a total of nine weeks. With Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy idle this week, Day will remain in the top spot on Monday, marking a 10th week atop the ranking.

That will put him 15th, just ahead of Ernie Els, on the list of the most weeks at No. 1 since the ranking was created in 1986. Another week and Day would then tie Adam Scott for the second most weeks at No. 1 for an Australian-born player.

At No. 1 among the Aussies? That’d be Greg Norman, who spent what seemed like an astounding 331 weeks atop the ranking in his career — that is, until Tiger Woods spent 683 weeks in that position. No one is catching Woods’ record anytime soon, but the Shark hopes Day eventually catches his mark.

“I shared a text with Greg Norman earlier this year, and he said that he would love to see me pass him,” Day said ahead of this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans. “I’m like, ugh, that’s 330 something weeks at No. 1.”

Only 321 — 6 years, 9 weeks — to go after this week!

Day shot 3-under 69 on Thursday at TPC Louisiana to open the Zurich Classic. He got off to a hot start, shooting 5-under 31 for his first nine after teeing off on No. 10. However, Day stumbled to the house, particularly after having to come back following a lengthy rain delay. He had to finish his 16th hole, the seventh, and play out the final two. He bogeyed the last two holes to finish at 3 under par. He’s five back of Brian Stuard’s clubhouse pace at the suspension of play.

“It’s under par,” Day said. “That’s all I can really take from it.”

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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