Come Monday, Jason Day will take over as the world’s No. 1 player.
On Sunday, he played like it.
Day started Easter Sunday by edging Rory McIlroy in the match that would have been well-served as the final. Instead, it was a semi-final match and it went to the 18th hole with Day besting McIlroy, 1-up.
The final was no contest. Louie Oosthuizen, who easily beat Rafa Cabrera Bello in their semi, was no match for Day.
Day crushed Oosthuizen, 5&4 to win this WGC event for the second time in three years.
Day took control of his match with McIlroy early on the back nine. He won the 10th and 12th hole to go 2-up and although McIlroy cut it to one after 14, Day was too tough coming home. “Very, very pleased to get past Rory,” he said after their morning battle. “It was a very tough match.”
His afternoon match was not. Oosthuizen made only one birdie and simply got run over by Day’s power and spectacular short game.
It was Day’s second straight victory after taking the title last week at Bay Hill. He will now take a week off to rest his back and prepare for the Masters.
It was a grueling week that saw Day win all seven of his matches and go 36-holes on both Saturday and Sunday. His back showed no ill effects from what happened early in the week during his first match.
“It’s been an amazing week,” said Day, who will jump past Jordan Spieth when the new world rankings come out on Monday.
Along with his great length off the tee, Day credited “a great short game from last week.”
