Dwell
Jason Day couldn’t fairly make it Jason’s day on the British Open – however the rejuvenated Australian famous person was nonetheless left thrilled after becoming a member of a bunch of legends along with his near-miss at Royal Liverpool.
The Queenslander couldn’t conceal his delight and pleasure at once more being again in a serious dust-up as he completed in a four-way tie for the runner’s-up spot at rain-sodden Hoylake on Sunday.
However whereas American Brian Harman was operating away with the Claret Jug within the driving rain, profitable by six strokes, the 35-year-old Day was left with the not insubstantial comfort of becoming a member of an elite membership.
For by ending runner-up, he now matches a bunch of luminaries – Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Phil Mickelson, Greg Norman, Louis Oosthuizen, Craig Wooden and Dustin Johnson – as simply the ninth participant within the recreation’s historical past to be a runner-up in any respect 4 majors. As nicely, after all, as profitable one.
And although he by no means regarded like including to his 2015 PGA title as Harman dominated, his battle for second place with Korean Tom Kim, Austrian Sepp Straka and Spain’s Jon Rahm – one which in the end ended all sq. at seven beneath – there was widespread delight on the fashionable determine rediscovering the shape that after made him world No.1.
“I’m completely satisfied. Contemplating my play during the last month and a bit hasn’t been that nice, and I didn’t have the best confidence coming into this week, to have the ability to end tied second was good,” mentioned Day, additionally runner-up on the Masters and US Open in 2011 and the PGA in 2016.
“Sadly, I hadn’t performed that nice within the majors this yr, so it was good – simply the gradual, gradual improve in confidence by way of good play.”
Day knew, like the remainder of Harman’s pursuers, that solely a collapse of Greg Norman-like proportions from the American would give anybody else an opportunity to win, however he was nonetheless annoyed he didn’t get slightly nearer after a ultimate two-under spherical of 69 that featured 4 birdies and two bogeys.
“I want I’d have lower into the lead slightly bit extra. You simply by no means know. When somebody has such an ideal lead, and then you definately type of lower into it, you simply by no means know what they’re going to do beneath the pump,” he mentioned.
However whereas Rahm and Straka received to inside three strokes, Day couldn’t get nearer than six.
There was only a second, although, after lacking the inexperienced, when he delivered one of many photographs of the day – a chip from 33 toes that flew over a bunker and rolled into the outlet for a second straight birdie – when a Day cost regarded on the playing cards. When he sought extra inspiration, although, he might discover solely solidity.
In the meantime, Cameron Smith bowed out as Champion Golfer of the Yr with a smile within the rain after firing a final-round 73 to complete at one over.
“It was superior being again. I’d have preferred to have achieved a greater job at defending it, however, yeah, simply wasn’t my week this week,” mentioned the 29-year-old, who completed tied for thirty third, alongside Adam Scott, who accomplished his twenty third Open with a two-under 69.
“I can’t wait to get again right here subsequent yr and provides it one other crack. It’s golf that I’ve discovered to like,” he added, even whereas moist by way of,” mentioned Smith.
The massive let-down for the Australian problem got here with Min Woo Lee’s last-round hunch to complete at two over.
After mendacity joint-fourth with Day at midway, the rising star from Perth regarded moist, bedraggled and only a bit fed up as his three last-round birdies had been offset by seven dropped photographs in his 75.
“It was fairly brutal on the market. Didn’t actually have the mindset of it being that moist for that lengthy,” he sighed. “All day we just about had the umbrella up.”
— AAP