Day survives the magic of Dubuisson in Match Play

 

By DOUG FERGUSON11 minutes ago

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MARANA, Arizona (AP) — Jason Day won the Match Play Championship on Sunday by surviving the amazing par saves of Victor Dubuisson.

The most riveting event in its 16-year history ended on the 23rd hole at Dove Mountain when Day rolled in a routine birdie putt from 4 feet on the 15th hole. It was his first World Golf Championship.

Nothing else about this day was routine.

Dubuisson hit out of a cactus behind the first green, up the thick grass and onto the green to stay in the match on the 19th hole. On the 20th hole, he smashed wedge through a desert bush to get to his ball and watched it roll to 7 feet for another par.

But the Frenchman ran out of magic on the 23rd hole.

Day outlasts Dubuisson to win Match Play title

Day outlasts Dubuisson to win Match Play title


Feb 23, 2014; Marana, AZ, USA; Jason Day with his tee shot on the fifth hole during the final round of …

(Reuters) - Jason Day fended off a stunning fightback by Frenchman Victor Dubuisson to clinch the biggest title of his career with a one-up victory after 23 holes in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship final in Marana, Arizona on Sunday.

A commanding three up lead after 12 holes on an afternoon of light breezes at Dove Mountain, Australian Day was caught by the Frenchman who recorded clutch birdies at the 13th and 17th, followed by an amazing par from a greenside bunker at the 18th.

Dubuisson then conjured two miraculous up-and-downs from desert scrub at the 19th and 20th holes to keep the match alive before Day sealed the win by sinking a four-footer for birdie at the 23rd, the driveable par-four 15th.

It was Day's second triumph on the PGA Tour and his first success in one of the elite World Golf Championships (WGC) events which bring together the game's leading players.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Larry Fine)