Australia’s Jason Day parred the second hole of a four-man sudden-death playoff on Sunday to win the US$6.3 million Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.
With his third US PGA Tour triumph, the 27-year-old Day will rise from No. 8 to No. 4 in the world, overtaking Adam Scott to become the top-ranked Australian.
He out-lasted J.B. Holmes — who fell short with a bogey at the second playoff hole — and defending champion Scott Stallings and Harris English — both eliminated at the first extra hole.
Photo: AFP
“It’s an amazing feeling because I’ve been working so hard for this. I just kept visualizing myself holding the trophy this week, kind of like what I did at the [WGC] Match Play,” Day said. “I just said, I’m not going to stop, I’m not going to stop.
“I’m just really proud of myself to be able to hang in there and grind it out,” he said.
Day’s tee shot at the second extra hole, the par-three 16th on the Torrey Pines South Course, flew straight over the flagstick and left him a long birdie attempt.
His putt went right, but left him a tap-in for par.
Meanwhile, Holmes flew the green and after chipping on was unable to convert his par attempt.
Day, Holmes, Stallings and English all finished 72 holes on nine-under 279. Day carded a final-round 70, Stallings a 69 while Holmes and English, who shared the overnight lead, carded even-par 72s.
Day had a bit of luck just to make the playoff. His chip from behind the green at 18 in regulation was rolling briskly toward the water hazard, but stopped just short of the hazard line and he closed with a par.
He had put himself in contention with birdies at 15 and 16 — where he drained a 14.3m shot.
“I had a great save at 17 from a plugged lie in the bunker,” Day said. “Then, learning from my mistake on 18 and taking that into the playoff ... the hard work is paying off.”
The foursome returned to the par-five 18th to start the playoff. All four reached the green in regulation. English rolled his long birdie effort within 30cm of the hole and he tapped in for par.
Stallings followed with his birdie try from about 4.6m out, and he missed left.
Holmes had played his third shot to 0.9m and he converted that for birdie. Day, who shared second place at this event last year, rolled in his short birdie putt to extend the playoff.
Alex Prugh with a 71 and Charles Howell with a final-round 68 shared fifth place on 280, one stroke in front of Scotland’s Martin Laird, Ireland’s Shane Lowry and Americans Nick Watney and Jimmy Walker.
The biggest names in the field did not make it to the weekend. Former world No. 1 Tiger Woods limped off with back trouble after 11 holes of the first round on Thursday, and five-time major champion Phil Mickelson missed the cut.
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