Jason Day validated his ascent to No. 1 in the World Ranking with a dominant victory over South African Louis Oosthuizen, 5 and 4, in the final of the WGC-Dell Match Play at Austin (Texas) Country Club on Sunday.
The victory was the second straight for the Australian star, who won the Arnold Palmer Invitational a week earlier. It also was his sixth win in his last 13 starts, dating to his victory in the RBC Canadian Open last summer, and the ninth of his PGA Tour career.
When Jordan Spieth lost to Ooshuizen Saturday morning and Day defeated Brooks Koepka Saturday afternoon, Day was assured of claiming the No. 1 spot in the World Ranking this week. He solidified his lead with a victory over Rory McIlroy, 1 up, in a semifinal match Sunday morning, followed by a dominant performance in beating Oosthuizen in the final.
Day bogeyed the first hole to fall behind but pulled even on the third hole and took the lead for good with a birdie on the fourth hole. He also won the seventh and ninth holes to take a 3 up lead into the back nine, then won the 13th and 14th holes to close out Oosthuizen.
The victory was Day’s second in the last three years in the WGC-Match Play. In 2014, he defeated France’s Victor Dubuisson in the final.
McIlroy, meanwhile, lost to Rafa Cabrera Bello, 3 and 2, in the consolation match.
The best of Golf Digest delivered daily
Sign UpWill be used in accordance with our PRIVACY POLICY