A shocking four-putt double-bogey six has cruelled Jason Day’s hopes of a guaranteed return to next year’s Masters on a horror final day for Australia’s golf stars at Augusta National.
Day had been hanging tough on Sunday in his bid for a top-12 finish, which would punch a ticket back in 2024, before disaster struck on the par-5 ninth hole.
He stroked a brilliant, curling first putt for birdie from 44 feet to three feet, only to push his attempt for par past the hole, and then also miss his try at bogey.
From a tie for 18th, Day suddenly slumped down the leaderboard to a share of 20th at one under entering the back nine of his final round.
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Spaniard Jon Rahm grabbed the early lead from American third-round pacesetter Brooks Koepka as the stage was set for another thrilling climax at the season’s first major championship.
Jason Day plays his shot from the 12th tee at Augusta National. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Veteran Phil Mickelson surged into second with a final-round 65 to be 8 under, a shot ahead of Jordan Spieth, who carded a 66.
Rahm held a two-shot lead at 10 under after the 12th on his final round with Koepka and Russell Henley three shots adrift as they also entered the final stretch.
Day had fought hard in a round of 74 to hold his place in the top 10 after play resumed following the suspension of Saturday’s third round.
But the par-fives continued to hurt Day. After taking a double bogey on the 15th on Friday, when he was outright second behind Koepka at nine under, Day immediately bogeyed the eighth when play restarted on Sunday to slip back to three under, where he finished his round.
He stayed there until his meltdown on No.9.
Reigning British Open champion Cameron Smith and 2013 winner Adam Scott fared no better. After continuing his third round on the 14th hole at one under, Smith immediately fell back to even par with a bogey after missing the green and failing to get up and down.
He did well to avoid dropping another shot on the 15th after hitting into the water with his all-or-nothing attempt to find the green for two and land an eagle.
But he dropped another shot on the last to post a three-over 75 and enter the final round a dozen strokes behind Koepka. Smith was unable to make any headway in the delayed final round and was two over for the championship through 13 holes and 13 adrift of Rahm.
Completing his third round alongside Smith, Scott went further backwards after a calamitous 15th hole.
He dunked two balls in Rae’s Creek en route to a triple-bogey eight, signed for a 77 and started the final round 14 shots off the pace.
Day slipped to six over and was 16 shots off the pace through 16 holes of his final round.
Newshttps://https://ift.tt/tR81Q2f Australia’s Day at Masters as disaster strikes to end chances of late charge up leaderboard
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