Aussie wins last Major of the season
Australian golfer Jason Day woke up this morning a new man. Life will never be the same again. A few hours ago he walked into the history books as winner of the 97th US PGA Championship, his first Major title, with a record score of 20 under par.
The 27-year old amiable Aussie from Beaudesert in Queensland conquered the sandy course at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, USA by shooting a thrilling 4-round tally of 268. Never before in any of the four Majors that take place each year has anyone ever recorded such a low score. Surprisingly, that includes the greats such as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in their glory days. Although the victory of another American in the US PGA Championship deserves a mention here. In 2001 David Toms beat fellow American Phil Mickelson by one stroke to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy on high after recording just 265 strokes (66-65-65-69) on the Highlands Course at Atlanta Athletic Club. For everyday golfers the Highlands Course has a par of 72, however, during the US PGA Championship par for the course was 70. And so Tom’s winning score was 15-under par.
Spieth hot on his heels
Back to 2015. Jason Day led the field by two strokes going into the final round. Biting at his heels at 13-under par was 22 year old Jordan Spieth. The American has been on seriously good form the whole season and looked a big threat to Day. Yet somehow it felt as if this would be Day’s day. And not just because of the nine top-10 finishes he’d already recorded in Majors since turning pro in 2006. He had also made quite an impression in Scotland recently. Yes, it is amazing to realise that only last month, during The Open at St Andrews, that Spieth and Day had both narrowly, and painfully, missed out on a chance to get into the play-off. Spieth going for his third successive Major title. And Day for his first. The Aussie saw his last play-off chance disappear at the 18th when his birdie putt stayed above ground. The formidable duo were just one shot short of the magical 15-under par play-off tally with American Zach Johnson (eventual winner), Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) and Marc Leishman (AUS).
Six nations tussle in top-ten
If Day were to become the fifth Australian golfer ever to win the US PGA Championship, he would have to stand his ground against the best in the world. Players from six different nations were gathered at the top of the leader-board. The top ten (and ties) looked like this: Australia (Jason Day and Matt Jones); America (Jordan Spieth, Tony Finau, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Billy Horschel and J.B. Holmes); South Africa (Branden Grace); England (Justin Rose); Germany (Martin Kaymer) and India (Anirban Lahiri).
South Africa’s Branden Grace seemed to appear out of the blue on Saturday after blazing home with a 64 to take a share of third spot with Justin Rose just three shots off the pace. Although Grace did get to 16 under after nine holes on Sunday, it was really a two-horse race between Day and Spieth. And Day did his country proud. A birdie at the 7th got him to 19 under. Two holes later Spieth made bogey at the 9th to give Day a 4-shot lead. An up and down from a greenside bunker to save par at the short 12th hole was to seal his success. In no time at all, he was three ahead with three to play. The sweet smell of victory was just around the corner.
On the 18th green, no heroics were necessary. All Day needed to do was to stay calm and stroke his long putt somewhere near the hole. It came up just short. A tap-in for victory. But not before Spieth had holed out first. Such is the great tradition in this game. Yet Day’s tears were already flowing. Years of emotion running down his cheeks. Moments later his ball disappeared into the hole and the teardrops fell like a waterfall.
Happy days for Jason and his wife Ellie and young son who were among the first to congratulate him on the 18th green at Whistling Straits. As US PGA Champion, Jason Day was presented with the Wanamaker Trophy and prizemoney of 1.8 million dollars.
Wendy Hoad
FINAL SCORES: 1. J. Day -20; 2. J. Spieth -17; 3. Branden Grace -15; 4. J. Rose; T5. B. Koepka -13, A. Lahiri -13; T7. G. Coetzee, M. Kuchar, D. Johnson -12; T10. R. Streb, T. Finau -11.
Photographs: A fired-up Jason Day after his 66 on Saturday. The emotional winning team of Jason Day and loyal caddy Colin Swatton. Jason Day, the new US PGA Champion treasures the Wanamaker Trophy.