Jason Day’s $811,000 payday after tricky family decision at Tour Championship finale
Jason Day has seen his chances of winning the $US18 million ($AU28 million) cheque and the FedEx Cup trophy go up in smoke in brutal scenes in the PGA Tour Championship finale, but has still walked away with $811,000. The Aussie golfer was an outside chance of taking the title at East Lake Country Club in Atlanta, and made the tricky decision to play amid the impending birth of his fifth child with wife Ellie.
But Day had a nightmare third round on Saturday (local time), producing a four-over 74 to fall out of contention. He then had a three-over final round to finish 28th in the 30-man field.
Under the FedEx Cup finale scoring system, Day started nine shots behind Scottie Scheffler heading into the tournament and was boosted by the American’s poor showing in the first round. However the Aussie star wasn’t able to match it with the likes of Viktor Hovland – who went on to win by five five shots at 27-under.
Hovland held a six-stroke lead over Xander Schauffele after the third round, and finished off the job on Sunday to capture the $28m prize. “The list of names that’s been on that trophy is pretty special,” Hovland said. “It feels more like a sprint. Obviously, it’s a marathon getting into this week. But it’s hard to win the FedEx Cup if you haven’t played well the last few weeks.”
Hovland began the third round tied for the lead with Collin Morikawa, but his rounds of 68, 64, 66 and 63 vaulted him to the outright lead. Morikawa made two bogeys and a double to card a 73 on Saturday, before a two-over final round.
The World No.1 Scheffler had four bogeys and didn’t make a birdie until the final hole on Saturday for a 73. After starting the week in first place at 10-under, the American finished tied for sixth with Morrikawa and Tommy Fleetwood.
