Jason Day of Australia claimed his first major championship, winning the 97th PGA Championship by three strokes over Jordan Spieth at Whistling Straits Golf Club in Kohler, Wis.
The 27-year-old Day, who had finished in the top 10 nine times in the Grand Slam events without winning, closed with a 5-under-par 67 and became the first player to finish a major at 20-under. He broke Tiger Woods’ record of 19-under in the 2000 Open Championship at St. Andrews.
“It’s been a long journey,” said Day, earned his fifth PGA Tour victory and third this season. “I didn’t expect to grow up and be on the PGA Tour. It’s just amazing. I’ve put in so much hard work since I was 12 and to win the PGA Championship is pretty special.
“I didn’t expect to cry, to be so emotional, but I was so close so many times and fell short. I couldn’t ask for anything better than to finish it off in style.”
Spieth, 22, the Masters and U.S. Open champion, finished with a 68 and fell short in his bid to join Woods (2000) and Ben Hogan (1953) to win two men’s professional majors in the same season.
However, he received a consolation prize, taking the No. 1 spot in the World Golf Rankings from defending PGA champ Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who closed with a 69 and wound up 11 shots back in solo 17th.
“I knew walking up 18 that Jason was going to win and that all I needed to reach that goal (No. 1) was two putts,” said Spieth, who tied for fourth in the Open Championship at St. Andrews last month, missing the playoff won by Zach Johnson by one stroke. “That’s a goal I’ve had since I turned pro (in 2013).
“I’m proud of the way I battled and it’s been a great season.”
Branden Grace of South Africa finished five shots back in solo third after a 67, followed another stroke behind by Justin Rose of England, the 2013 U.S. Open champion, who had a 70.
Brooks Koepka carded a 66, including an eight-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole, and was seven shots back in a tie for fifth with Anirban Lahiri of India, who came in at 68.
Dustin Johnson suffered another major disappointment, falling out of contention with a quadruple bogey 8 on the first hole, but rallied to shoot 69 with two eagles and was another stroke back in a tie for seventh with Matt Kuchar, who totaled 68, and George Coetzee of South Africa, who wound up at 67.
Rookie Tony Finau posted a 71 to tie for 10th, nine shots down, in a tie for 10th with Robert Streb, who posted a 67.
Martin Kaymer of Germany, who won the 2010 PGA at Whistling Straits in a playoff over Bubba Watson, shot 73 to tie for 12th, while Phil Mickelson shot 69 to tie for 18th and Watson tied for 21st after a 68.
