JASON Day was once quoted as saying he’d “take down Tiger”, his golfing idol Tiger Woods. Day accomplished it emphatically at the 97th PGA Championship in the Whistling Straits course at Kohler, Wisconsin USA on Sunday, August 16, 2015.
By JAIME K PIMENTEL
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Not only did he leave Tiger in his wake, behind at number 148 on the leaderboard, but he also surpassed Tiger’s record lowest score in the majors of 19 under par by finishing 20 under at 268.
Even world number-one Jordan Spieth, who mounted a courageous chase in the final holes, could only muster enough magic to land in second place, three shots behind Day, at 271.
In her report for the New York Times, Karen Crouse wrote: “After a 314-yard drive on the par-5 16th hole at Whistling Straits, Jason Day had a decision to make.
“Ahead by three strokes in his bid to win his first major championship, Day could lay up with his next shot, which was the smart but conservative move, or go for the green as if he had nothing to lose.
“Day did not deliberate for long. In the previous two majors, he had held at least a share of the 54-hole lead and had failed to win. Six times since 2013, he had posted top-10 finishes at golf’s four biggest annual events.
“He was going to win the 97th PGA Championship or go down swinging from his heels.
“Using his 4-iron, Day hit a towering draw that landed on the fringe of the green.
“He made a birdie to get to 20 under par, and that was where he finished, closing with a five-under 67 to beat Jordan Spieth by three strokes.”
Tiger Woods later posted on Twitter: “Game over, very happy for Jason. Great dude and well deserved.”
Two-time US Open champion Greg Norman wrote on Instagram: “Congratulations to my fellow Queenslander and Australian (Jason Day) and his beautiful family Ellie and Dash for joining the elite club being a major winner.”
Jason’s mother Dening Day, who was at work in Queensland, missed watching her son’s final holes of the championship but followed updates on the PGA website.
“It takes a long time before it gets updated,” Mrs Day told ABC Radio. “It gets a little bit anxious. I was so excited. I was so proud of him. It has been a long time coming for him. It’s a culmination of all his hard work.”
Indeed, it was a long, long way from Jason’s childhood in Beaudesert, Queensland, when his bread-winner father Alvin died. It was dad who bought a used golf club to set young Jason on the road to sports history.
“We were poor,” Day said.
And it was Colin Swatton who took over mentorship of Jason, and has been caddie to the new PGA champion ever since.
When Day sank his last putt on the 18th at Whistling Straits and was overcome with tears, it was Swatton who first embraced him.
Then little son Dash ran to his dad on the green. Day grabbed and the lifted the boy like a trophy as his wife Ellie joined them.
It was an unforgettable moment, shared by Australians and Filipinos all over the world.
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PICTURES
Top: Jason Day, in tears at the green, with son Dash. (Source: nola.com)
Lower: Jason Day, a picture of power as he tees off. (Source: newsyahoo.com)
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