Day Revels In Company Of Great White Shark

PEBBLE BEACH, California (Reuters) - Australian Jason Day, the youngest player on the 2008 PGA Tour, has relished the company of former world number one Greg Norman at this week's Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

"It's been really fun," Day, 20, told reporters after surging into contention with a two-under-par 70 at Poppy Hills Golf Club in Friday's second round.

"We've been talking about back home in Australia. It's great to play with a former world number one and try and learn what he has done.

"I've heard a lot about Greg and how good a golfer he was back in the day, but I was only born in '87. He was in his prime then so I didn't really get to see when he was really killing it out here."

Norman, widely known as the "Great White Shark", and Day have played the first two rounds together in the tournament staged on three different courses and are scheduled to tackle the hosting Pebble Beach Golf Links on Saturday.

An added bonus for Day has been getting to know Norman's 22-year-old son Gregory, a two-handicapper who is playing with his father in this week's pro-am tournament.

"Greg, Jr. is right around my age so we hit it off pretty much right at the start," said Day, who ended the second round two strokes behind the pacesetting American Tim Herron.

"We were always talking about riding motorbikes, snowboarding and watching cartoons. We clicked pretty quick."

Day, touted as the next Greg Norman by Australians, is eager to hone his game on the world's most lucrative circuit.

"Tiger Woods is over here and this is the biggest tour in the world," he said. "And if you want to climb up the world rankings quick, this is where you need to be.

"This is where I want to be long-term," added Day, who burst into the limelight by becoming the youngest winner of a PGA Tour-sanctioned event at last year's legend Financial Group Classic on the Nationwide Tour.

"Now here I am today; I'm 20 years old and I'm just enjoying myself out here."

Day has played in three PGA Tour events this season, missing the cut in his first outing, tying for 49th at the Buick Invitational and sharing 20th last Sunday at the Phoenix Open.

"Last week was good, and obviously a confidence boost.

"Now I'm in contention, just a couple behind the lead and I'm just looking forward to the next 36 holes.

"It would be great if I could come out and win so early in the season, but there's a lot of golf to be played."