Tiger Woods has no doubt Australian golfer Jason Day will etch his name into the record books with a major championship victory before too long.
The 14-time major championship-winning American and the Australian have struck up a burgeoning friendship with Woods anointing Day a major winner in waiting after playing several practice rounds together over the past few months.
"He's going to win one, there's no doubt about that. He's got the talent. He's got the game. He's still so young," Woods said of Day.
"He's proven that he can put in the time. He puts in the effort. He puts in the work. Him and (caddie) Col (Swatton), they go at it pretty good and it is good stuff.
"It's good to see him making the subtle changes that he needs to make, and he certainly has a lot more shots now than he used to, and I'm sure in a few more years, he will have even more in the arsenal."
Woods will get another close look at Day's game over the next two days at Muirfield Village with the pair grouped together with Patrick Reed over the opening two rounds of the Memorial Tournament, hosted by Jack Nicklaus.
It is a pairing both are more than comfortable with as Day becomes closer to the American star.
Woods notoriously has very few close friends on tour and most of them are older than the 39-year-old, but with 27-year-old Day he sees a kindred spirit.
"I just think he's just a great kid. Just down to earth, great kid," Woods said.
"We had probably similar upbringings, didn't really have much, and we had to work for everything we had, and I snuck on golf courses just to practice and play, and he did the same thing. We're very similar in that regard."
Day, who is trying to overcome a mystery illness that brings dizziness, fatigue and sleep issues, was flattered to hear Woods' words.
As a member of Muirfield Village he is hopeful of finally bettering his previous best tie for 27th in the tournament.
"It is great to hear something like that from arguably the greatest player to ever play our sport," Day said.
"It is no secret he was a huge influence on me as a kid as I tried to be like him and to be able to hang out with him on the course and learn from a legend of the game is obviously great.
"I hope it continues long into the future."
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