It all ends in tears for Day… and he couldn’t be happier
Australian revels in ‘special’ moment as he secures record and first Major title
ATEARFUL Jason Day won the US PGA Championship to claim his first Major. Jordan Spieth came second but won the season, rising to the finest address in golf, world No1. And Rory McIlroy won his battle with injury to serve notice to the pair of them that he wants both embellishments back.
Day became the first golfer in Majors history to triumph on 20 under par, three strokes clear with scores of 68, 67, 66, 67. Even the mighty Spieth had given up as the final group approached the 18th tee. Spieth hit a beaut y then watched Day fly one past the point at which hi s bal l had rol l ed out , an emphatic statement of omnipotence here by the king of Whistling Straits.
Day began the final afternoon with a two-shot advantage over Spieth. Twice on the back nine he stretched his lead to four. If a bogey at the 15th gave Spieth any encouragement, Day erased all hope with a bounce-back birdie at 16. The last two holes were a procession into the arms of the Wanamaker Trophy, and his waiting wife and son.
“To be able to walk up thehe 18th hole and finish the way I did… it was just a lot of emotion that came out of me,” said the Australian, who rose from No5 to No3 in the world today. “I haven’t had really much time to think about what I’ve just accomplished. I guessuess you can take me off the list of the best players without a Major now.”
Congratulations rained in from his fellow pros, starting with McIlroy, who carded a final round 69 to finishnish onon ninenine under par. “It’s great to seeee guys win their first Major. I can stilll remember what mine was like. It will feel special, and a sense of satisfaction.””
Day, 27, paid tribute to hiss caddie and coach, Colin Swatton, who stepped into the paternalp role during a difficult periodperio following the death of his fatherfath at 12, when he flirted with boozeboo and bad company.
“TThe path I was on it was never expectedexp for me to be here,” he said.said “I lose my dad, and then meet Colin and have him walk the journey with me and have him walk up the 18th hole withwi me was just a special, special thing I’ll never forget.” DayDa was so immersed in the contesttes he was unaware he had rewrittenr golfing history with his record. He said: “I did not know that. It’s pretty amazing. There have been such amazing golfers and to have that record shows the work I’ve put in is paying off.” Unaccustomed to finishing secondse in Majors there was at leastle consolation for Spieth in succeeding McIlroy as world No1.No “It’s been a very, very good year.ye This is as easy a loss as I’ve evereve had because I have accomplishedplis one of my lifelong goals. ThatTha will never be taken away from me now. I’ll always be a No1 playerplaye in the world.”