Dazzling Day is in a class of his own
For the first half of the Players Championship, he showed all his artistry and for the second half all his character.
In short, it was a complete performance from the Australian Jason Day who, right now, looks the complete golfer.
Certainly, no one is going to be dislodging him from the world No 1 spot anytime soon. Not after this seventh PGA Tour victory during his last 17 starts in a remarkable nine-month spell.
No one else has won more than twice during the same period.
Day dug deep after a ropey start to wrap up a four-stroke victory. He began the day with a four-shot cushion and never led by less than two strokes despite some wayward tee shots, with his superb putting touch allowing him to card a 71 and finish at 15 under par.
rory McIlroy threatened to inject some interest when he got to tied third at one point, but late bogeys meant a 70 and a top-15 finish.
Meanwhile, for Scot russell Know, imagine going back to the notorious island green 17th a day after you’ve put three balls in the water and heard the crowd dissolve into fits of laughter?
If you think the top pros would be immune to feelings of dread and embarrassment, think again.
‘I started to think about it the moment I got to the 16th tee,’ said Knox. ‘I thought to myself: “It’s coming, it’s coming”. When I got there, I have to admit I was terrified. I mean, what if I did it again?’
Thankfully, he found dry land with his first tee shot but the hole still hadn’t finished with him, as three balls in the water became three putts instead, with the second of those spinning out. It was his only bogey all day.
This iconic hole simply will not give him a break, will it?
Actually, it might prove the making of him. It’s certainly put him on the map. Knox tied sixth when he reached the hole on Saturday.
The first of his tee shots was a yard short, hitting the top of the wooden sleepers before plunging into the water.
The mocking noises started when he shanked his next. ‘I could hear them shouting: “And another one…” and things like that, and laughing loudly,’ he said.
Knox’s reaction when his seventh shot mercifully landed on the green — he ended up with a nine — was priceless. He threw his arms into the air in mock triumph. How the crowd loved that.
Knox, who lives in Jacksonville, showed why he is a contender to make Europe’s ryder Cup team, rebounding nicely with a 68 to finish inside the top 20. This week he is playing in the Irish open.
‘I’ve never been to Ireland, oddly enough, so I can’t wait,’ said the 30-year-old. ‘I guess you should be careful what you wish for but it will be nice to play a tournament where you don’t sweat.’
Particularly after a week where simply the thought of playing a certain hole was enough to break into a sweat.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Jeunghun Wang became the youngest player in European Tour history to win consecutive events after a dramatic finish to the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius open.
Wang, 20, who won his maiden title in Morocco last week, capitalised on a late collapse by Bangladesh’s Siddikur rahman to claim a oneshot victory at Four Seasons Golf Club. Siddikur held a three-shot lead with three to play, but doublebogeyed the 16th and dropped another shot on the 17th.