Tuesday 18 August 2015 12:31, UK
Jason Day’s wait for a major win is finally over after he held off a strong challenge from Jordan Spieth to claim to PGA Championship title at Whistling Straits.
Given Day is just 27, it may not seem like the Australian has had to wait all that long to taste victory on the big stage. However, in 21 appearances in majors, Day has finished in the top ten nine times before eventually breaking his duck on Sunday.
We look back at the near misses that ultimately led to him to success...
2010 PGA Championship (tied-tenth)
Day went into the final round tied in fourth with eventual winner Martin Kaymer on nine under after a brilliant round of 66 on the Saturday. American Nick Watney led the way on -13 but a nightmare final round of 81 saw him fall well down the field.
The drop-off wasn’t quite so steep for Day but a two over round of 74 left him four behind Kaymer and Bubba Watson, just holding on to a place in the top ten.
2011 Masters (tied-second)
In his first appearance at the Masters, Day made a steady start as he shot an even par 72 on the round. However, it was his second round 64 that made people sit up and take notice.
That put him into second behind Rory McIlroy and another 72 saw him go into the final round four behind the Northern Irishman and level with K.J. Choi, Angel Cabrera and Charl Schwartzel. Day posted an impressive 68 but, despite McIlroy’s meltdown, it was not enough to earn him the green jacket after Schwartzel’s magnificent 66.
2011 US Open (second)
Day was again left chasing McIlroy at Congressional later in 2011. The Australian’s stunning round of 65 put him tied third going into the Sunday, albeit nine strokes off the lead.
He emerged as the Northern Irishman’s nearest challenger after another good round of 68 but ended eight behind the irresistible McIlroy.
2013 Masters (third)
Back at Augusta, Day found himself out in front at the half-way stage and despite a third round 73 remained right in contention as one of three Australians within two shots of the leading pair of Cabrera and Brandt Snedeker.
Snedeker fell out of the running with a 75 and with just three holes to go, Day had the lead. However, he bogeyed 16 and 17 to finish an agonising third as his fellow countryman Adam Scott won after a play-off.
2013 US Open (tied-second)
Scoring was tough in the extreme at Merion and eventual winner Justin Rose took the title on +1. Like the rest of the field Day struggled, particularly on day two but a third round 68 left him three behind leader Phil Mickelson going into his final 18 holes.
A final round 71 kept Day in the hunt but ultimately it wasn’t enough as he finished two shots behind Rose, tied with Mickelson on three over.
2013 PGA Championship (tied-eighth)
For the third time in a year, Day ended up in the top ten at a major. Oak Hill was the venue and Day was right in the mix on three under after the first round. However, he slipped down the field after scores of 71 and 72 in the next two rounds.
Another 67 on the Sunday saw him climb back into the top ten as Jason Dufner won on -10, seven clear of Day.
2014 US Open (tied-fourth)
Martin Kaymer romped to victory in North Carolina having led throughout at Pinehurst. For Day, the title never seemed much of a possibility given he was eight shots back after the first round and a further two adrift at the halfway stage.
A final round 68 brought him into the top five, two behind Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler in tied second, and 11 off Kaymer.
2015 US Open (tied-ninth)
The Chambers Bay course came in for a lot of criticism from the players during the course of the tournament but Day would not have cared a jot had he been able to convert his position as joint-leader after the third round into a maiden major title.
However, he posted his worst round of the week on the final 18 (74) to finish level par and for tied ninth, five off the lead. He had done well to get that far having collapsed on the final hole of his second round, suffering a bout of vertigo.
2015 The Open (tied-fourth)
Once again, Day went into the final round leading after a first round 66 and a third round 67. He was joined at the top of the leaderboard by former champion Louis Oosthuizen and Irish amateur Paul Dunne.
Adverse weather conditions at St Andrews meant the final round was played on the Monday and high winds remained a challenge that needed to be overcome.
Birdies at 5 and 6 kept Day right in the mix but after parring every hole from there on, he walked up the 18th needing a birdie to reach a play-off with Zach Johnson, Marc Leishman and, as it turned out, Ooisthuizen. Another par was all he could manage, and another chance went begging.
2015 PGA Championship (Champion)
After so many near misses, Day finally won his maiden major championship with victory at Whistling Straits. He led from start to finish during the final round, keeping Jordan Spieth at bay.
The Aussie finished -20, three clear of Spieth and after so many disappointments in recent years, few will begrudge him this victory.
