Jason Day triumphs Match Play final

February 24, 2014: Australian Jason Day took full advantage of Victor Dubuisson at the 23rd hole to edge an epic WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship final.

Dubuisson, who was on the verge of an astounding victory at Dove Mountain before Day finally prevailed on the 23rd hole, although only after his opponent produced two extraordinary recovery shots to keep the contest active.

The Frenchman conceded the first two holes of the final to Day and although he got back on level terms by the fourth, the 23-year-old bogeyed four of the next five to fall three down at the turn.

[highlight] I kept saying that to myself last night and visualizing myself with the trophy and I am just glad I could finish it off, Day said after the win [/highlight]

The gap was still three with just six holes remaining only for Dubuisson to reduce his deficit with a birdie on the 13th, and then keep the match alive with another on the 17th after Day had missed his birdie attempt to seal victory.

And when Day three-putted the 18th from 65 feet, Dubuisson saved par from a greenside bunker to keep his hopes alive of winning a WGC title at his first attempt.

The real drama was yet to come as Dubuisson seemingly wasted all his hard work when his approach to the first extra hole bounded through the green and came to rest in a seemingly unplayable lie underneath a cactus.

However, the Turkish Airlines Open winner conjured a pitch onto the green and within four feet of the hole, from where he holed for par after Day had saved his from a greenside bunker.

Day repeated the trick on the second play-off hole.

After pulling his approach to the par four ninth into more desert bushes, Dubuisson casually pitched out and calmly holed from seven feet for par after Day had missed his birdie attempt.

The next two holes were halved before Day finally sealed victory with a birdie on the fifth extra hole after an excellent pitch to three feet.

Dubuisson, however had the consolation of taking around €650,000 for second place which, coupled with his earnings for winning the Turkish Airlines Open last season, means he is likely to make a Ryder Cup debut at Gleneagles in September.

“I am disappointed because I made some terrible shots, I missed some shots at the end, said Dubuisson

“Jason played very well and he made the very important putts. Any time I had a gimme birdie he made his putt. I was very impressed by his nerve.”

Day will now move to a career-high fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking on Monday, said: “Obviously I didn’t want it to go this long but Vic has a lot of guts and a great short game.

“The guy (saves par) straight out of the cactus twice and for a 23 year old kid he has a lot of game and you are going to see a lot of him for years to come.

“I think the biggest thing was how much do I want to win. I kept saying that to myself last night and visualizing myself with the trophy and I am just glad I could finish it off,” Day added.