Jason Day’s body failed him again at the worst possible time and he missed the PGA Tour playoffs for the first time in 18 years.

But the end of his streak arguably sat second on the fallout list for International team captain Geoff Ogilvy who had already feared he wouldn’t have the former world No.1 available for the Presidents Cup September showdown with the USA at Medinah.

Day's renewed passion for the biennial contest and his leadership were crucial ingredients in 2024 in Montreal, and Ogilvy had been in constant contact with him throughout his recent challenges, keen for his presence in Chicago.

Forced to withdraw from two PGA Tour events following his missed cut at the Open Championship as he battled back issues, Day’s attempt to qualify for a 19th straight appearance in the playoffs ended after the second round at the Wyndham Championship last weekend. 

It left the 38-year-old, who has played in five Presidents Cups, almost resigned to his 2026 campaign being over. 

“My body is beat,” he said.  

Jason Day's body failed him in 2026. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

“I really have to get my body sorted, that's the biggest thing. It's hard to play golf the way that I am playing now.  And then I'm playing against the best players in the world, you know. I'm giving everyone a handicap and it's just really difficult to do that.

“Best to kind of take some time off, get my body sorted and try and come out next year and play well.”

It’s a concession which makes taking up a spot in the Presidents Cup, with Min Woo Lee the only locked in Australian, unlikely and could be a hammer blow to Ogilvy who spoke glowingly of Day’s impact on the team having ended a seven-year absence from the competition in 2024.

“He's very passionate about it. He openly admitted that he sort of wasn't really that into it the first couple of times but as his sort of career went along and he missed one (in 2019) I think he realized ‘I don't like missing that. I want to get back in it’’,” Ogilvy told Golf Australia Magazine.

“And he got back in and he goes, wow, this really is special. You know, sometimes you have to take it away to realise how much you like it.

“And last time in Montreal, he was a great leader for us and he was really passionate and involved. So we want to see him fit and healthy because, you know, we don't have that many former number ones in the world and major winners in our team.

"You kind of want him up and firing.”

Day had worked his way back inside the world’s top-30 during 2025 and started 2026 with a bold tie for second at the American Express Championship in January.

But it proved to be an outlier, one of only two top-10 finishes for the year as his body continued to be “awful”, in his own words.

Through May, June and July his struggles took the greatest toll, making just one cut in five events. He also withdrew mid-round during the US Open, managing just nine holes of the opening round before leaving the course in a golf cart.     

“My body's been really awful actually this year, so just to try and grind through it has been tough,” he said.

 “I had some club changes, but other than that it's been kind of all body stuff. A couple coach changes, changed coach, but I think overall I just need to take some time off.”

Jason Day was set to be an important Presidents Cup player. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Day’s likely absence from the Presidents Cup team mean captain’s picks from Ogilvy could be needed to boost the Australian contingent at Medinah.

While Lee is a lock, Adam Scott’s push for a staggering 12th appearance could be determined by his own showing in the PGA Tour playoffs, or a pick from Ogilvy. He's currently seventh on the rankings, with the top six automatic picks. 

Scott and Lee were also the only Australians to make the PGA Tour post-season.

The next highest ranked and eligible Australian, excluding world No.49 Lucas Herbert and his LIV teammates Cameron Smith and Elvis Smylie who can’t be selected, is Karl Vilips at 201. 

The American team added a third captains assistant on Tuesday, with Webb Simpson joining 2025 Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley and Jim Furyk to skipper Brandt Snedekers outfit.