Defending champion Jason Day spoke Wednesday (27 July) ahead of the PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Jason Day, defending champion:

"Well, I think the bar's been raised ever since Tiger Woods kind of came around. I think everyone expects if you're in the lead or if you're a favourite to win, they expect you to win, and if you don't, then you're in a slump. And unfortunately, it's not the case. It's very, very difficult to win golf tournaments. And like you said, I think the bar has been raised. Everyone just has seen it all before and expects it to happen every single time. It just doesn't work out that way sometimes. Golf is a very difficult game, on top of trying to manage all the mental part of the game, as well. It has, but once again, the competition has got tougher. When I first came out in 2006, I remember some of the cut lines were plus one and plus two, and now most of the cut lines are under par. So it just goes to show how stiff the competition has gotten over the years that I've been out here. And then on top of it, the guys are just younger and stronger and fitter and faster, and they are just long out there. So just the competition is really, really tough right now. If you don't stay one step ahead of the young guys, it's easy to get left behind. So I'm kind of coming into my prime now, and I'm hoping to stay there for awhile."