Day completes wire-to-wire win

Jason Day carded a one-under-par 71 to record a wire-to-wire win at the Players Championship on Sunday.
Day, who ended the tournament on 15-under, finished four strokes ahead of his closest competitor, Kevin Chappell.
Justin Thomas, Matt Kuchar, Colt Knost and Ken Duke were in a tie for third on 10-under, while Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama was six strokes adrift of the lead in a tie for seventh. World number three Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for 12th on seven-under.
Day, who became the first golfer since Tiger Woods in 2002 to win wire-to-wire in two tournaments in one season, struggled on the front nine as he missed an eight-foot par putt at the sixth to record a bogey. He then got in trouble in the right rough at the ninth to record his second bogey of the round.
Despite the world number one’s slow start to the round, he bounced back on the back nine, starting with a 17-foot birdie putt at the 10th before sinking a 16-foot birdie putt at the 12th. A birdie at the 16th was the icing on the cake as the Australian won the unofficial ‘fifth major’ and pocketed US$1.89 million. He also became the first wire-to-wire winner at TPC Sawgrass in 16 years.
Day has now won three tournaments in 2016, have also bagged the silverware at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which he led for all four rounds, and the WGC-Dell Match Play.
Chappell rose up four spots on the leaderboard after firing a tournament-best 69, which began with a turbulent front nine that consisted of two birdies and three bogeys. The American turned his fortunes around on the back nine as he made a chip-in eagle from 36 yards at the par-five 11th before making consecutive birdies at the 16th and 17th.
Meanwhile, McIlroy rounded off his tournament with a two-under-par 70, which saw him make a pair of birdies on the front nine. The Ulsterman failed to maintain his momentum heading into the back nine though as two further birdies were cancelled out by two bogeys.
Latest
-
PGA Tour
Justin Rose wins AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am to claim first title since 2019
Monday’s resumption saw the 42-year-old make birdies on the 11th, 13th and 14th en route to a 66.
-
PGA Tour
Daniel Gavins survives final-hole drama to win Ras Al Khaimah Championship
The Englishman held his nerve to hole for a double-bogey seven on the 18th and clinch a one-shot victory.
-
PGA Tour
Gareth Bale admits to nerves on debut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am
The 33-year-old, who announced his retirement from football last month, is a two-handicapper.
-
PGA Tour
Jordan Spieth wants Pebble Beach to become one of PGA Tour’s elevated events
The PGA Tour’s top players have committed to playing against each other at least 20 times a year.
-
PGA Tour
G4D Open is ‘great news’ for golfers with disabilities – Brendan Lawlor
Up to 80 players will contest the inaugural event in May.
-
PGA Tour
It’s been a battle – Rory McIlroy delighted to pip rival Patrick Reed in Dubai
The Northern Irishman birdied the final two holes at Emirates Golf Club to card a closing 68 and finish a shot ahead of Reed on 19 under par.
-
PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy holds off rival Patrick Reed with birdie on 18 to seal Dubai win
McIlroy birdied the final two holes at Emirates Golf Club to card a closing 68 and finish 19 under par.
-
PGA Tour
Rory McIlroy leads by three in bid to win his third Dubai Desert Classic title
England’s Callum Shinkwin and Dan Bradbury are McIlroy’s closest challengers heading into the final round.
-
LPGA Tour
Golf bid to increase diversity in sport improving but still has ‘long way to go’
Nicola Bennett is an ambassador for the Golf Foundation, helping to drive grassroots campaigns.
-
PGA Tour
Richard Bland boasts share of lead at halfway stage in Dubai Desert Classic
The 49-year-old returned to complete his second round on Saturday morning, carding three more birdies and a solitary bogey in his remaining 14 holes.