Jason Day won the Players Championship in Florida, his seventh success in 17 starts, but not before some of his countless fans had their hearts in their mouths.
The real deal Day didn’t show up until the 10th hole, having started the day leading by four shots over playing partner Hideki Matsuyama, as well as Ken Duke and Alex Cejka, in a final-round field missing some of golf’s biggest names.
Defending champion Rickie Fowler, Masters champion Danny Willett, and world number two Jordan Spieth were just a few of the players to have missed the cut, a list which read much like a who’s who of golf.
Up until the 10th, Day was the only golfer on duty who hadn’t posted a birdie, despite three chances, finding only three greens in regulation.
It was like watching Greg Norman on a Sunday when it counted.
But the difference between Jason Day and Greg Norman is Day’s steely character; he has the ability to put poor or bad shots behind him very quickly.
Take the ninth hole, where Day was hole high in two on the par-five, an obvious birdie opportunity.
Unbelievably, Day clunked three successive chips which travelled only 20 feet and had to sink a nine-footer for a bogey.
That snapped the Aussie into action.
Day birdied the 10th and 12th holes, and like that he was back to 14-under, again leading by four with six to play.
The 47-year-old Duke made some encouraging noises until he missed a two-foot putt at the 10th, birdied the 11th and was back to 10-under with Justin Thomas. Thomas shot 65, and, along with Colt Knost and Matt Kuchar, kept Day honest throughout the final round.
Watching these players apply the pressure made me recall Day’s comment after the third round.
“I want to win this tournament so bad, I really do.”
Maybe he wanted it too badly. Day made two bogeys and two birdies after missing another birdie chance at 15, but leading by four with three left to play was a powerful position.
Kevin Chappell made a late plunge with an eagle at 11, and he birdied 16 and 17 to be within three shots of Day, but the Aussie retaliated with a birdie at 16 to stay four in front.
Day went within a whisker of sinking a curling 50-foot putt on 17, but with pars there and on the last, he was the champion by four shots.
Under all the final day pressure he went out at two-over but came back in three-under.
Little wonder Jason Day is the world number one.
The final leaderboard
15-under – Jason Day
11-under – Kevin Chappell
10-under – Justin Thomas, Matt Kuchar, Colt Knost, Ken Duke
9-under – Francisco Molinari
8-under – Daniel Berger, Graeme McDowell, Hideki Matsuyama
7-under – Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Bryce Molder
Cav
Guest
I agree with one of the previous comments. This latest win by Day and his current form should move the Rugby League totally off the pack page of Australian Newspapers. The importance of what Day is doing at the moment is the talk of the Golfing World which is a truly Global Sport. Come on your Sport Writers, identify this great run Jason is having and celebrate it for what it is, possibly the greatest stretch of Golfing victories of any Australian,past or present. Cav
Punter
Guest
Exactly Greg, I watched Day this morning, what a golfer, he is best in the planet, his winning streak has been called by Scott as Tigerish, 7 wins from the last 17 starts. Jarryd who, the media in this country is so wrong!!!!!
Ironmonger
Roar Rookie
Well done Jason! I first read about him leading on Day 3 and wondered where all the big names were...it made me wonder about the quality of the field...and now I read the above to find some of the quality didn't even make the cut!
Greg
Guest
The Jarryd Hayne story currently has around 180 comments compared to this story, which has one previous comment. This is very sad. Jason Day's achievement was huge, as have been all his achievements for the past little while. Day and Scott (also top 10, or close to) are killing it.
Kingcowboy
Guest
That 9th hole was brutal but it just shows why this young man is number 1 in the world. Could of been a Speith like meltdown at the Masters but he just kept his head and closed it out on the back nine. Love this kid and I hope he wins another major this year.