Jason Day Day? There will be several, and one might be Sunday

SILVIS, Ill. - Today is University of Iowa Day at the John Deere Classic, which suits Hawkeye fan Zach Johnson just fine.

Friday is University of Illinois Day here at TPC Deere Run, which pleases Illini alum Steve Stricker, the JDC's two-time defending champion.

There is no Hills International College Day scheduled. That's where Jason Day matriculated in his native Australia before setting out into the big golf world. As an 18-year-old, Day made his PGA Tour debut at the Deere in 2006. He tied for 67th place and was probably happy to do that well.

“I was very nervous because I didn't know how I was going to perform,” Day said Wednesday. “I knew that I had some game, but I just ... I felt they were so much better than me.”

That was then. This is now. Based on the strides 23-year-old Day has made in the last three months alone, Sunday could very well be Jason Day Day here.

This is the world's No. 7-ranked player. This is a man who tied for second at this year's Masters, and finished second at the U.S. Open with an 8-under-par score that would have won many an Open.

In between those major tourneys, Day tied for sixth at the Players Championship. He has been in the Top Ten in five of his last six tourneys. He won the Byron Nelson Classic last year.

This is a budding superstar who may not pass the Deere's way again unless his sense of loyalty to this tournament remains strong. Because the Deere is the week before the British Open, it's tough duty trying to win the British with just two days of preparation time in the U.K., and Day wants to win majors.

So, the Deere's fans may want to enjoy having Day while it lasts. Johnson's presence is always a selling point here, and at No. 5, Stricker is the world's highest-ranked player here. The tourney people are very excited about welcoming defending British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen.

But the player in this 156-man field who may have the brightest future of any would seem to be Day. Based on how he played at the Masters and U.S. Open, who's to say he can't make a run at winning next week at Royal St. George's?

“I'm looking forward to next week,” Day said. “I really enjoy playing on the big stage in front of a lot of people. It just seems that if the course is tougher, there's more pressure out there, it makes me focus a lot harder.”

The crowds aren't as massive and the course isn't as tough at the JDC. No matter. Day tied for 15th in each of the last two Deeres. If he's in the hunt on the weekend, he'll be an imposing figure.

These things change, but for now, Day didn't sound like he considers himself too big to big-time this event in 2012.

“I think it would be really good to come back as a defending champion next year, definitely,” he said.

Stricker, a Wisconsin native and Illinois grad, hasn't minded that role the last two years. Although, he said, “I feel a little extra pressure, probably, to perform well here this week.”

Johnson wants that Deere trophy to go along with his seven Tour wins.

“It would mean a lot,” he said.

“I haven't played well here, with the exception of maybe one week (when he tied for second in 2009).”

Johnson got sponsors' exemptions here in 2002 and 2003 when he was a fledgling pro out of Cedar Rapids, and is making his 10th-straight appearance in the JDC.

“You can kind of say it's my fifth major,” he said. “So yeah, I'm excited. Love it.”

Eleven players are here who have won majors. Only one has won two majors. That is John Daly. He is playing here for the seventh time and has never made a 36-hole cut. His last win was in 2004.

Daly is still a drawing card. But if Sunday is Daly Day here, the Mississippi River might start flowing south to north.