When you look at his stats as a closer these days, this one was over before it started.
Jason Day, the world’s No. 1 player, looked every bit the part this week at the TPC Sawgrass. He finished off a perfect four days on Sunday with a one-under par 71 that put the Players Championship on his growing resume.
“I wanted to win this so bad,” said Day, who is now 5-for-5 in closing the deal after holding 54 hole leads. He got himself back to where he was after 36-holes, 15-under par and he won easily by four shots over Kevin Chappell.
Day gave the field a little hope early. He shot 38 on the front nine and admitted, “I was really nervous on the front nine.” It showed, no birdies. Then he got his first birdie of the day at the 10th when he rolled in a 17-footer, downhill and never looked back. He would shoot 33 coming home to close the door on everyone. “I was bearing down on the back nine,” he said and it looked it.
Day also sent a message to the other top players: “I’m very motivated to stay No. 1,” he said matter-of-factly.
Over the final 18 holes, no one really mounted an early run at him, allowing Day to gather himself after his first nine and put everyone out of their misery.
Chappell shot 69 and that jumped him into solo second. While Day collected a monster first place check for $1,890,000, Chappell took home a great consolation prize — $1,134,000 — more money than some PGA Tour events pay the winner.
Justin Thomas put up the day’s low round, a 65 that earned him a tie for third with Matt Kuchar (68), Colt Knost (69) and Ken Duke (72).
But this day, this week, belong to Day and Day alone. “I got off to a great start,” he said, looking back at posting a tournament record 15-under par after his first two days.
Day also appreciated the impact of his victory, the 10th of his career and his third this season. “This could push me into the Hall of Fame one day.”
