Jason Day takes Dell Match Play title

Jason Day proved too good for Rory McIlroy and Louis Oosthuizen in Austin

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Jason Day proved too good for Rory McIlroy and Louis Oosthuizen in Austin

European Tour Release

March 28, 2016: Jason Day landed a double blow on European Tour Members at the WGC-Dell Match Play Championship, first beating Rory McIlroy in the semi-finals and then downing Louis Oosthuizen 5&4 in the final to win the title for the second time in three years. (Read more in Golf)

The Australian, who returns to World Number One, was struggling with a back injury early in the week at Austin Country Club, but still managed to top Group 2 and dispatch Brand Snedeker and Brooks Koepka en route to the final day.

An enthralling tussle with McIlroy ensued on Sunday morning, but despite being the only player to take Day to the 18th hole, the Northern Irishman was unable to produce a closing birdie that would have extended the match.

Two years ago Day beat Victor Dubuisson in an epic final in Arizona that ended on the 23rd hole, but this time he had a much easier ride against Oosthuizen, who could not replicate his earlier ruthless form to which Rafa Cabrera Bello had earlier fallen victim, losing 4&3.

Cabrera Bello rallied in the afternoon to cap a memorable week by seeing off McIlroy 3&2 in the consolation match, the Spaniard ensuring a first visit to the Masters in two weeks’ time as well as the largest pay cheque of his career.

“I’m very, very pleased to be the champion again. It was an interesting week, to say the least. I wasn’t even thinking about playing on Thursday after tweaking my back on Wednesday, then getting to World Number One on Saturday and then winning on Sunday. It was a very, very strange week, but I’m glad to gut it through and get the win,” gushed a delighted Day. “All week I’ve been getting therapy before my rounds, after my rounds, in between my rounds, trying to make sure that I’m just relaxing everything that I can through my back to get that locking feeling out of my system.”

“I think the morning’s round was probably one of the hardest rounds I’ve had to go through in match play format, to try to get through. Rory was difficult because from tee to green he doesn’t miss any shots. Even if he does miss one slightly, he’s always back on top of it and hitting a great shot the next time. But I think if he had holed a few more putts early on, it would have been very difficult to catch him.”

“The quality of the match with Jason was really good. I think the only mistake between us was made on the second hole when he went into the hazard. Apart from that, there were no bogeys. I didn’t birdie the 12th or 13th and that’s what cost me the match,” explained a pensive McIlroy, who was searching for positives. “That was a really big swing in the match. Jason didn’t give me anything – he played very solid. I’m disappointed with the outcome, but I feel like I’m really happy with where my game is. There are lots of positives to take from this week.”

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