Jason Day gave his pursuers some hope, and then he took it away.
The 30-year-old Aussie birdied the 16th and 17th holes to break out of a tie for the lead en route to a 2-under-par 69 that gave him a two-stroke victory over Aaron Wise and Nick Watney in the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.
“I had no idea where the ball was going today and missed a lot of fairways and greens,” said Day, who won for the second time this season and the 12th time in his career. “My short game just stood the test.
“This is one of the best wins I’ve had, just because it was so hard. But it was great to birdie 16 and 17. I was driving the ball out of the ballpark, but I putted great all week, but I just kept pushing.
“It was nice to win here and I will enjoy this one tonight, but then I have to start to focus on (the Players Championship) next week.”
Day, the former No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Ranking who had slipped to No. 14, will climb back into the top 10 this week heading to the Players after posting a score of 12-under 272.
After making bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes, Day sank an 11-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole and hit the pin with his tee shot on the next hole, leaving a three-foot birdie putt that virtually wrapped up the title.
Wise, 21, the 2017 NCAA champion at Oregon from Lake Elsinore in Southern California’s Inland Empire, closed with a 68, while Watney, from Davis and Fresno State, sank a 59-foot birdie putt on the last hole to cap a 59.
“I’m really, really proud of the way I played,” said Wise, who recorded his best result in 25 starts on the PGA Tour. “I was tied for the lead with Jason after 16 holes, but 16-17-18 are so hard. I thought I handled the pressure pretty good, but it was up and down.
“I was super calm most of the time, but at other times I would look at the leaderboard and have to calm myself down.”
Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis made an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole to shoot 68 and finished four shots back in solo fourth, while Phil Mickelson closed with a 69 to wind up five behind in a tie for fifth with Paul Casey of England and Peter Uihlein, who both had 71s.
Tenth-ranked Patrick Reed was six back in solo eighth after a 69, while Emiliano Grillo of Argentina also totaled 69 and was one more down in a tie for ninth with Luke List, who finished at 70, and Charl Schwartzel and Sam Saunders, who both came in at 72.
Seventh-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, a two-time winner at Quail Hollow, tied for 16th after a 71, while second-ranked Justin Thomas, who won the PGA Championship last August on the Charlotte course, shot 70 and wound up in a tie for 21st that included sixth-ranked Rickie Fowler of Murrieta, the 2012 champion at Quail Hollow who finished at 73.
Tiger Woods failed to make a birdie in a 74 and tied for 55th, while defending champion Brian Harman struggled to an 81 and finished 74th.
For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.
