Monday 21 March 2016 16:08, UK
Jason Day took advantage of a final-hole bogey from Kevin Chappell to snatch a dramatic wire-to-wire victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The world No 3 recovered from bogeying three of his opening six holes at Bay Hill to post a two-under 70 and end the week on 17 under, becoming only the tournament's fourth ever-wire-to-wire champion.
Victory ahead of Chappell moves Day in to second in the world rankings ahead of Rory McIlory, who ended a frustrating week by carding a joint-low round-of-the-day 65.
In a rollercoaster final round which saw the lead change numerous times, Day resumed two shots clear and briefly extended his advantage when he chipped in from the second fairway after his tee shot missed the green.
After bouncing back from bogeying the next two holes to post a seven-foot birdie at the fifth, Day lost his lead to Chappell when he sent his approach to the par-five sixth into the hazard and could only get up-and-down for bogey.
Chappell followed birdies at the third and sixth with another from close range at the eighth to temporarily go two ahead, but bogeyed the next as Day's superb approach left a kick-in birdie to leave the pair all-square at the turn.
Consecutive birdies at six and seven from Stenson left the Ryder Cup star heading in to the back nine one-shot back, before joining Day and Chappell in picking up a shot at the par-5 12th.
The Swede then made it a three-way tie for the lead by draining from over 20-feet at the next, only to miss the green and the 14th and run his par-save past the edge of the cup.
Troy Merritt's hopes of victory appeared over when he missed the green and two-putted from seven feet to double-bogey the ninth, but bounced back by firing five consecutive birdies to join the leaders at 16 under.
Stenson slipped out of contention when he found the water and bogeyed the 16th, as Chappell two-putted from 30 feet to temporarily take solo control.
The lead changed hands again when Chappell missed the fairway at the last and Day carded a birdie-three at the 17th, giving the Australian a one-shot advantage.
Day then produced magic from the fairway bunker to get up-and-down and leave a four-foot putt for victory, leaving Chappell having to settle for second.
A double-bogey at the last left Merritt in a tie for third alongside Stenson, with a final-round 68 from Zach Johnson lifting the Open champion to fifth spot.
Kiradech Aphibarnrat posted a bogey-free 65 to join Paul Casey and Justin Rose in the top-10, while Adam Scott, chasing a third consecutive PGA Tour victory, made a mess of the 18th to finish the week in a tie for 12th.
McIlroy mixed two eagles and five birdies with a sixth double-bogey of the week in a much-improved performance, ending the week in the group on six under including Andy Sullivan and Matt Fitzpatrick.
