Jason Day holds off Victor Dubuisson to win World Match Play after 23 holes
Frenchman mounts stunning fightback, but is finally seen off by Australian
Jason Day fended off a stunning fightback by Frenchman Victor Dubuisson to clinch the biggest title of his career with a one-up victory after 23 holes in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship final in Marana, Arizona on Sunday.
A commanding three up after 12 holes on an afternoon of light breezes at Dove Mountain, Australian Day was caught by the Frenchman, who recorded clutch birdies at the 13th and 17th, followed by an amazing par from a greenside bunker at the 18th.
I’ve never wanted something so bad in my life
Dubuisson then conjured two miraculous up-and-downs from desert scrub at the 19th and 20th holes to keep the match alive before Day sealed the win by sinking a four-footer for birdie at the 23rd, the driveable par-four 15th.
The Frenchman, who had missed the green to the right off the tee, hit a high lob wedge 20 feet past the cup and missed the birdie putt coming back before the Australian made his to secure the title.
“I’ve never wanted something so bad in my life,” an emotional Day, 26, told CBS Sports after clinching the winner’s cheque for US$1.53 million.
“Obviously I didn’t want it to go this long but Victor, he has a lot of guts and he has got a great short game. He got it straight out of a cactus twice.