Jason Day is becoming "Tiger-esque": Adam Scott

Was there ever any doubt that Jason Day would win The Players Championship, his third title victory for 2016?

Having signed for a course-record equalling 63 on day one, set the 36-hole scoring record with a 66 on day two and then survived the controversial third round carnage with a 73, Day was unstoppable. He opened the final round with a four-shot lead and maintained that advantage through 72 holes to claim the win.

Jason Day celebrates winning The Players Championship.
PHOTO: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images.

He is the fourth Australian behind Greg Norman, Steve Elkington and Adam Scott to capture the championship widely regarded as the fifth major.

Such was the dominance of his performance that even when he bogied twice on the front nine at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday, he seemingly brushed off those setbacks and stuck to his guns. He might have given his chasers some hope but he broke their hearts with birdies at the 10^th, 12^th and 16^th holes before pars at the closing holes sealed the deal at 15 under.

The 28-year-old led from start to finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational back in March, and his win at Sawgrass emulates the incredible feats of Tiger Woods (twice), Tom Watson and Johnny Miller in winning in wire to wire fashion twice in the same year.

Day putting the foot on the accelerator in sight of the clubhouse was reminiscent of how Woods would close out victories in his heyday. And his strike rate of victories – seven wins in his past 17 starts – also mirrors the 14-time major champion.

Day salutes the crowd with son, Dash, aftre his win.
PHOTO: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images.

“It’s Tiger-esque,” said Scott of his fellow Queenslander’s run of wins. “I try to imagine how good Tiger felt just playing, five years into his pro career having won 50 events. Imagine how you’d feel confidence-wise. Jason must be kind of feeling something like that at the moment and that’s an incredibly nice way to walk out on the golf course.

“You can see it with Jason. I played with him one day this week in practice, you can see there’s that calmness inside him, calm confidence, the way he’s walking around. He’s got that kind of unbeatable look about him.”

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Scott paid tribute to Day for maintaining the momentum gained from his achievements last year.

“I think from that stretch last summer, he's managed so far to keep that momentum going, and that's one of the hardest things to do when you are hot like that, to keep pushing, but he has a very strong desire to achieve so much,” said Scott, who finished eight shots behind Day in a tie for 12^th. “I think probably his goals are changing throughout this period, and he's expecting more and more of himself. He's got that ability to push himself and accomplish.

“He's structured so well from what I can see, the little bits of insight that I get into his whole life, I think he's got a good handle on everything. He's matured as a person so much in the last four or five years, and I think that's showing in his golf game.”

Job done. PHOTO: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images.

When quizzed about Scott’s Tiger reference, Day was humbled and said there was still a lot of hard work ahead.

“It’s great to be in the same sentence as Tiger,” Day said. “You know, it's only half the year, so I've got plenty of opportunities to try and win some more. I've never been more motivated to be No. 1 in the world. I've never been more motivated to try to extend that lead from one to two (points).

“All the hard work that I've put into my game right now has paid off, but I've got to keep working hard to win as much as I can.

“But it's very pleasing and satisfying to hear players – the caliber of player like Adam Scott saying that about my game.”

The PGA Champion said he has to keep working hard because he knows he has a target on his back and will be chased by the likes of Spieth, McIlroy and, when he returns from injury, Woods.

“Tiger says he's going to kick my butt when he comes back,” Day smiled, “so I'm going to try and extend that gap, so if he does come back and he's turned into Tiger Woods again, I've got to kind of watch my behind.

“Yeah, that's the main goal and main reason why I'm trying to extend that lead, so that I stay on top, because at the end of the day, it's very stressful being the No. 1 player in the world. You're in the limelight a lot. You've got more things to do when you get to tournaments, more things to do off weeks. But I wouldn't change it in any way because this is exactly where I want to be, and I want to try and stay here as long as I can while I can, because nothing beats this feeling.”

When the sun was setting on the golfing year at the end of 2015, Jordan Spieth was World No.1 and Day was his nearest pursuer with Rory McIlroy a close third. It appeared as if the three would play musical chairs with the World No.1 spot for some time to come. But Day can now get his business cards printed with confidence that the top spot in the world is his for some time to come. Where fractions of points separated the trio only a few months ago, Day has shot clear at the top of the ranking and is likely to be a full two points clear of his nearest pursuer – Spieth – when the official ranking is released in the next 24 hours.

Adam Scott finished T12, eight shots behind Day.
PHOTO: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images.

His victory also makes him just the fifth player to have won The Players, a major and a World Golf Championship after Woods, Phil Mickelson, Martin Kaymer and his mate Scott.

Day now has 10 PGA Tour victories on his resume but his goal is to not settle for small number of trophies.

“I look at that 10 PGA Tour wins, and I say to myself, that's not enough, and it isn't enough for me. It's just 10. I want more than 10,” he said.

“I think wanting more than that – because I look at that, and that number is not a lot. I look at Tiger and he's 79 or 80 or whatever it is, and Phil is up there, and I'm just like, okay, I want to be able to be looked back on and know that he was one of the greats in the game.

“If I have the opportunity to do that, I'm going to try my best. And I have the opportunity to do that right now, try and work as hard as I can to really leave my footprint on this game that has given me so much.

“So, you know, I'm motivated to be No.1. I'm motivated to extend that lead, but I'm very motivated to win as much as I can right now.”