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.

Related Topics:

Up Next

Phil Mickelson re-signs with Callaway through end of playing career

Don't Miss

Tuesday’s Photos from the Albertsons Boise Open

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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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

Reply Report comment
Judge Smeills

Sep 14, 2017 at 10:15 am

I am shocked

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
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.

Reply Report comment
- 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

Reply Report comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 OccuNet Classic

Published

1 day ago

Jun 9, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

With the PGA Tour across the border in Canada this week, GolfWRX Tour Photographer Greg Moore stayed stateside and headed to the OccuNet Classic presented by Amarillo National Bank in Amarillo, Texas.

It’s always interesting to see what the guys are playing on the KFT, and this week certainly hasn’t disappointed so far, with some incredible wedge stamping on display.

Check out links to all our albums below.

General Albums

2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT) – Monday #1

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

Luke Potter’s custom Cameron putter – 2026 OccuNet Classic (KFT)

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open

Published

1 week ago

Jun 3, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX Tour Photographer made the trip from the Memorial Tournament across the country to the U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera. Check out links to all the photos below!

General Albums

WITB Albums

Pullout Albums

Tour Photo Galleries

Photos from the 2026 Memorial Tournament

Published

1 week ago

Jun 1, 2026

GolfWRX Staff

GolfWRX is on site this week at the Memorial Tournament, with both Alistair Cameron and Tour Photographer Greg Moore on the ground in Dublin, Ohio, where a strong field is assembled to pay homage to the Golden Bear.

In addition to WITB galleries, we’ve already been treated to an in-hand look at Tommy Fleetwood’s new TaylorMade Spider putters.

Check out links to all our photos below.

General Albums

WITB Albums