Three weeks out from the 2017 Masters, world No.2 Jason Day has expressed his lifelong dream to be an Australian champion at Augusta National.
Speaking ahead of his title defence at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida, Queenslander Day says he's desperate to be the second Australian winner of the green jacket after countryman Adam Scott claimed the honour in 2013.
"Greg Norman and a couple other Aussies had a chance before (Scott)," said Day.
"To be the first Australian to win Augusta was always on my radar and Adam Scott beat me, but it's okay because I'd like to be the second player to win from Australia."
The 29-year-old attributed Tiger Woods' record-breaking, 12-shot triumph at the 1997 Masters for inspiring Day's career goal of winning the year's first major.
"I was nine years old in Rockhampton and I was just getting into golf," recalls Day.
"I remember Tiger obliterating the field at the '97 Masters and (after) I started playing more golf than I usually did at that age.
"That really kind of changed my life with regards to my career."
Day, who surrendered a 47-week reign as world No.1 to American Dustin Johnson in February, will begin a three-week lead up to Augusta at Florida's famed Bay Hill course this week.
The first Arnold Palmer Invitational since the legendary golfer's death in September starts Friday (AEDT), where Day will defend his one-shot victory from 2016.
"(Arnold Palmer Invitational) is a pretty special tournament for me; it was sad to see him pass last year.
"Coming back here as a defending champion is special, so hopefully we can get a good week going."
Day's first US PGA Tour title for 2016 kicked off a purple patch that delivered another victory one week later at the World Golf Championships' matchplay tournament in Austin, Texas.
He then romped to a four-shot win at the Players Championship in May and came up just one shot short of defending his 2015 US PGA Championship win in July.
"This is obviously a very important stretch coming up, just to see you how the state of my game is going into Augusta; I feel positive about the outcomes," said Day.
Big names in the field include world No.4 Hideki Matsuyama, Swedish world No.5 Henrik Stenson, recent Honda Classic champion Rickie Fowler and Englishman Justin Rose.
Australians joining Day include young stars Ryan Ruffels and Curtis Luck (amateur), 2006 Bay Hill champion Rod Pampling, Greg Chalmers, Steven Bowditch, Aaron Baddeley and Cameron Smith.
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