Jason Day seals successive victories

• Aussie captures WGC-Dell Matchplay Championship
• Victory is Day’s sixth in last 13 starts on PGA Tour
• Win puts seal on PGA champ’s return to world No.1

Jason Day sealed back-to-back PGA Tour victories with a thumping 5&4 win over former Open champion Louis Oosthuizen in the final of the WGC-Dell Matchplay Championship in Austin, Texas.

Day, 28, followed up his victory in last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational with his second Matchplay victory in three years. He has now won six times in his last 13 starts on the tour and, when the Official World Golf Rankings are updated later on Monday, he will find himself back at the summit.

“I’m very, very thrilled,” said Day afterwards. “It’s been a memorable week, not only to win the Dell Matchplay Championship but also to get back to No.1 in the world.”

After losing the opening hole, the Australian got his nose in front with a birdie at the fourth and, by the time he and Oosthuizen reached the turn, he was three-up and in full control. A wedge to three feet for a conceded birdie proved enough to close out a 5&4 win, the largest winning margin in the final of the match since 2008.

Jason Day joins Tiger Woods and Geoff Ogilvy as the only multiple winner of the WGC-Dell Matchplay.

On that occasion, Tiger Woods defeated Stewart Cink at Dove Mountain in Arizona, although that particular match was played over 36 holes. Day now joins Woods and compatriot Geoff Ogilvy as the only multiple winner of the championship.

He also emulates another fellow Australian, Adam Scott, who also won successive PGA Tour events earlier this month.

In the consolation match, Rafael Cabrera-Bello, above, defeated world No.3 and defending champion Rory McIlroy 3&2. The Spaniard, whose performance has earned him a Masters debut in just over a week’s time, subsequently tweeted: “Real honor to have played and have had the chance to beat @McIlroyRory. Definitely something I’ll always remember!”

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Jason Day :: The man to beat at Augusta?

With two victories in his last two events – and six in his last 13 – can anybody stop Jason Day from slipping into a Green Jacket at the Masters in just under a fortnight’s time? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor