Jason Day surged in 2015 and gained his first major championship at the PGA

Jason Day is not playing his best golf at this point in the PGA Tour season, but look out when it gets hot.

If last season is any indication, Day will be on top of his game by summer.

“It hasn’t been the greatest,” Day said of his start to the 2015-16 PGA Tour season. “I mean with the expectation of everyone, and then obviously the expectation of myself, I should be coming out here and contending and competing even after a three-month layoff.”

Day, 28, certainly heated up last year, propelled by a tie for ninth place at the U.S. Open and a tie for fourth at the British Open. He then won four of his next six starts, including his first major at the PGA Championship.

That helped Day gain the No. 1 ranking in the world. He is currently ranked No. 3 but strives to get back on top.

“I want to get back there,’ Day said. “Hopefully I get back there with the hard work that I’m putting into it. I have to let you know.

“Obviously it’s a different, different beast.”

Although he is striving to get back on top, Day isn’t setting any specific goals for this season.

“Last year was the first year that I didn’t set any goals,” he said. “Well, I shouldn’t say that. The only goal that I did have was make sure that I didn’t cheat myself. … I’m doing everything I possibly can, but only the person that only knows if they’re really working hard is the person that is saying it.”

Since Day broke through and won his first major championship last year, he said he is looking forward to getting to Augusta for the Masters next month.

“I’m nervous because I mean, obviously, this is one tournament that I’ve always talked about I’ve always wanted to win,” he said, “but I can’t get too far ahead of myself.”

This story was originally published March 19, 2016 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Jason Day surged in 2015 and gained his first major championship at the PGA."