| -23 J Day (Departure); -22 K Si-woo (Kor), A Eckroat (US); -21 CT Pan (Tpe); -20 Scheffler (US), T Hatton (Eng), Z Dou (Chn) |
| Other nominees:-16 S Power (Ire); -13 M Laird (Sco) |
| Full board |
Jason Day captured his first PGA Tour title in five years by beating Byron Nelson in Texas.
Day, 35, shot a final round of 62 to finish 23rd, one stroke ahead of Kim Si-woo of South Korea and American Austin Eckroat.
The Australian’s bogey-free rounder had a stunning chip-in for birdie on the 12th hole.
It is the former’s 13th PGA Tour world title but first since the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship.
“It’s been a tough couple of years, five years since our last win,” said Day, who won the 2015 PGA Championship.
“The way I played today was very special. I’m very happy and excited about how things have turned out over the last few years.”
Day said “just trying to get through the race was difficult” because of back injuries in the years since his victory.
He added: “To be on the other side, to be healthy, to win again. It’s great to be on the other side.”
Day won his first PGA Tour title at the 2010 Byron Nelson, then held another course in Dallas.
He began the final round at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney in a tie for fourth, two shots behind the leading trio of Eckroat, Ryan Palmer and Zecheng Dou.
He hit four birdies on the front nine to move into the lead, taking himself with his biggest chip on the 12th.
Kim, who shot a perfect 63, bogeyed the final hole to move to 22 under, with Day knowing he would need to get a birdie to avoid the playoff.
A superb shot gave Day an easy two-point advantage that he converted to take the lead in the clubhouse.
His victory was confirmed when Eckroat could not hit the eagle at the end.
Day will look to win his second major title when this year’s PGA Championship in New York gets underway on Thursday.
Scottie Scheffler, who started the final tournament with Day, threatened with four birdies on the front nine.
But he couldn’t keep up the momentum, carding a sub-par 65 to finish in a tie for fifth alongside England’s Tyrrell Hatton and China’s Dou.