Day Wins World Cup of Golf


Jason Day closed with a 1-under 70 to win the World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne. The victory was Day's first since the Byron Nelson Championship in May 2010.

Day finished 10-under 274, two shots ahead of Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, who had a 71, and three over fellow Australian Adam Scott (66). The two Aussies combined to win the team component of the competition by 10 strokes over Americans Kevin Streelman and Matt Kuchar.

Day almost pulled out of the tournament before it started due to personal tragedy. He lost eight relatives eight relatives in Typhoon Haiyan that devastated the Phillipines, but he decided to play. A visit by his mother at the World Cup also helped.

"It's just been an amazing tournament for me," Day told reporters. "My mother, my family, coming down to support me. I'm just so happy the hard work has paid off, and I'm glad it happened in Melbourne.

"It would have been the easiest thing for me to just go ahead and pull out of the tournament with what has been going on over the last week," added Day, a PGA Tour regular who makes his home in Ohio. "But I really wanted to come down here and play."

Bjorn tipped his cap to the toughness of Day. "Obviously a fraction disappointed, I didn't play that great today," Bjorn said. "But I couldn't be happier for Jason winning. He has gone through a rough time of late and for him to even be here is a big thing and then to go and win a golf tournament . . . that's what you want to see."

Kuchar closed with a 71 to end up in fourth at 278, while Streelman - who was near the top of the leaderboard after opening with a 66 and 69 - slipped into a tie for eighth at 283 following two 74s over the weekend.

Ryo Ishikawa of Japan (69) and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand (70) shared fifth at 281.

Scott, who before the World Cup of Golf won the Australian PGA and Australian Masters, now sets his sights on next week's Australian Open in Sydney. But for now, he's relishing the World Cup victory with his friend.

"It's been an incredible day," Scott said Sunday. "Thanks Jason, you played so well this week."

For all the scores, visit http://worldcup.pgatour.com/leaderboard.aspx.