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Australian golf great Jack Newton has urged against burdening Jason Day with high expectations in 2012.

He may be one of the most exciting young golfers in the world, but Australian great Jack Newton has warned against burdening Jason Day with high expectations.

The 24-year-old Queenslander has enjoyed a superb season, finishing second in both the US Open and the Masters to rise to eighth in the world rankings in only his fourth season on the PGA Tour.

However, he struggled to make an impression in last month's Presidents Cup in Melbourne, losing his singles match 5 and 3 to Hunter Mahan on the final day.

Day followed that by finishing a disappointing 15th in the 20-strong field at the Chevron World Challenge in California.

Newton, who finished runner-up in both the 1975 British Open and the 1980 Masters, is a big fan of Day and says he has the game and the talent to win a major, but stressed the importance of focus.

"I really think he has to keep his feet on the ground because the raps on him are pretty big," Newton told AAP at his annual pro-celebrity tournament in the Hunter Valley.

"The thing I love about him is that he's not afraid and will never die wondering. He can putt well too."

However, Newton felt Day was trying too hard to wow the crowd at Royal Melbourne.

"There was a lot of expectation when he came back for the Presidents Cup and I thought he was swinging faster than he normally does," he said.

"He was a bit anxious, trying a bit too hard. When you get to that stage you can't keep whipping yourself up, but it will be a good lesson for him."

Newton is also pleased with the way world No.5 Adam Scott has played this year and said linking-up with controversial caddy Steve Williams, following Williams' bitter split with Tiger Woods, is a big boost to his game.

He also credits Williams with handing Scott some home truths to get his game back on track.

"Adam was in denial about his putting," Newton said.

"He's finally come to the conclusion that his putting was letting him down and he's gone with the long putter.

"Whatever you think about Steve Williams, he is the ultimate professional caddy who will demand and say things to Adam that nobody else probably has before.

"That is what he needed and his form suggests he's back to where he was a few years back."

Newton also said Scott struggled with the tag of being the new Greg Norman and warned against doing the same to Day.

"Adam was in the top five in the world for some time and the whole 'new Greg' thing seem to affect him and things went a bit kaput," he said.

"This is something we need to be careful not to do to Jason.

"Adam is a very fine player (and) the way he's played this year shows he has worked out his game. He can have a big year in 2012."