The golf world has erupted after favourite Jason Day won his first PGA Tour title in more than five years, which also occurred on Mother’s Day nearly a year on from his own mother’s tragic death. Day took out $2.6 million having won the AT&T Byron Nelson tournament by one stroke in a tight battle with the field.
World No.1 Scottie Scheffler was right behind Day to start play, however, a birdie on the 12th hole after an audacious chip gave him room. He then birdied the 14th and 15th hole to put some room between him and Scheffler in the final stretch.
Day then arguably saved his best for last. On the final hole, Day produced a stunning chip approach to set him up for a birdie and finish 23-under par. Day fired a brilliant bogey-free final-round nine-under-par 62 to secure a steely one-shot win over Si Woo Kim (63) and American Austin Ekroat (65).
The win marked Day’s first title in 1,835 days. The victory marked Day’s 13th PGA title and will see the 35-year-old Australian head into the year’s second major, the PGA Championship, as one of the favourites. Following the victory, Day rushed over to his family and embraced them.
His wife Ellie – greenside and pregnant with the couple’s fifth child – was granted her own priceless Mother’s Day gift alongside her husband in a special moment for the pair. And the hallmark day also carried special meaning for the Australian.
Day’s win on Mother’s Day comes nearly a year after his won mother died of cancer. Day had his mother’s birth name – Adenil – on his caddie’s bib.
“This was the first one (Mother’s Day) kind of without her so to have her on my caddy bib was special,” he said after winning the tournament. “And then obviously Ellie, the amount of sacrifices she’s made for me and my career, I just can’t thank her enough.”
