Tour News

Another shocking player-caddie split: Jason Day, Colin Swatton part ways

Published

9 years ago

Sep 13, 2017

It looks like Jason Day is taking a page from the Rory McIlroy playbook. Golf Channel’s George Savaricas reports the Australian is dropping longtime caddie Colin Swatton. In Swatton’s place: Luke Reardon, a childhood friend of Day’s.

Reports also indicate this isn’t a short-term/end-of-the-season switch because Swatton wanted to get started on the offseason early. Instead, Reardon is expected to caddie for his mate for the foreseeable future.

The Day-Swatton relationship extends well beyond player-caddie and has been well documented. Swatton has been on Day’s bag since he joined the Tour. He’s often referred to as a father figure for the Australian, and he’s Day’s swing coach as well.

After Day’s 2015 PGA Championship win, Golf Digest’s Stephen Hennessy wrote:

“Swatton has been there since Day was a teenager. When Day’s father died of cancer, Swatton was there. When Day needed guidance in his life as a mischievous teenager drinking at age 12, Swatton was there. For all the hours that Swatton has spent next to Day as he hit golf balls — thousands, easily, from his days as Day’s instructor at the Hills International Academy in Queensland, Australia.”

Per Ben Everill from PGATour.com, Swatton will continue as Day’s coach.

Day is yet to comment on the switch, but we expect remarks sometime during this week’s BMW Championship. He is winless in a season over which his mother’s cancer battle has hovered. He has four top-10 finishes in 18 starts.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

10 Comments

Fred

Sep 17, 2017 at 10:10 am

i could not have sent a duplicate comment. i have only had one other comment ever and it was about golf instruction.

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Fred

Sep 17, 2017 at 10:07 am

Jason’s feeling are hurt. When he was #1, he could not be interviewed without mentioning that he was #1. This year, in a rare interview, he was commenting that since he was not #1, he could not get anyone to interview him. Perhaps if he played better golf and dropped some of his drama, he could get back to #1. He will never be #1 again.

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david

Sep 15, 2017 at 8:19 pm

Did he change putters as well? I didn’t get a clear look, but it looked different. Red, TM grip, but almost looked like an Odyssey 7.

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LITM

Sep 14, 2017 at 2:08 pm

He wanted to hang out with his friend or maybe his friend isn’t in a great financial place….
Colin will still be the swing coach

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Judge Smeills

Sep 14, 2017 at 10:15 am

I am shocked

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Mc Sim

Sep 14, 2017 at 2:29 am

Day has had a horrific season, he just needs a new/fresh approach on game’s day. Swatton is remaining as coach so I would assume the decision was mutual. Title says shocking, it’s a bit unfair, surprising decision at worst.

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Beggroll

Sep 13, 2017 at 3:49 pm

One day the son leaves home and makes his own way calling Dad when he needs him but not always by his side. Swatton will still be part of the team but Day has matured to where he needs some separation from the father figure. Only natural.

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- Jacked_Loft
  
  Sep 15, 2017 at 5:39 am
  
  Good point here. Maybe the split will also result in JD getting a little looser on the course. Time will tell.
  
  Reply Report comment
sam

Sep 13, 2017 at 3:26 pm

Shocking, simply shocking

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Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

2 days ago

May 11, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

Check out links to all our photos below.