Jason Day joined fellow Australian Adam Scott as the form duo ahead of the Masters next month with victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational before crediting Tiger Woods for his influence on his career.
Day carded five birdies and three bogeys in a closing 70 at Bay Hill to finish 17-under par, a shot ahead of American Kevin Chappell.
The 28-year-old became the first wire-to-wire winner at Orlando’s famed Bay Hill layout since Fred Couples in 1992, just weeks before the American went on to win the Masters.
Day, who rises to world No2 with the triumph, hopes to fit himself for a green jacket at the year’s first
major tournament in three weeks after collecting the trophy from Palmer, an Augusta National legend.
“It means the world,” Day said of the victory. “I just ground it out. It wasn’t the best I had but I got it done when I wasn’t quite on.”
Day revealed he received a text message from Woods on Sunday wishing him luck for his final round.
He added: “He’s been a big influence in my life ever since I was a kid and to have his advice, to be able to go see him and practice with him and pick his brain about numerous things that I want to try and improve my game has been a big credit to him.”
Day’s victory represents the third time in the last four PGA Tour events an Australian has won with Scott claiming the Honda Classic and WGC-Cadillac Championship.
With the Masters just over a fortnight away, Day, given his fine form, was asked if he wished it started this week.
“No,” he replied, with a smile. “I need some rest. I’m really tired. I wish it started in a week.”
Scott won at Augusta in 2013 while Day’s best finish was a share of second-place in 2011. He also finished third in 2013, finishing two shots shy of his countryman.
Day added: “Everyone is asking what’s going on, why aren’t you playing that great and I’ve been saying it’s a process, I just want to kind of stick to what I’ve been working on and be patient with myself and the process finally paid off this week.”
Earlier in the day, Rory McIlroy admitted he had to improve his mental approach after claiming an unwanted record despite finishing a frustrating week in style.
McIlroy carded two eagles and five birdies in a closing 65 to finish joint 27th, but a double bogey on the 14th was his sixth of the week and his most ever in a PGA Tour event and saw him slip to No3 in the world.
He said: “I just can’t beat myself up mentally; that’s something that I have done this week. I’ve beaten myself up for hitting bad shots and making mistakes and I can’t do that because you can compound one mistake with another and then you get into a bit of a lull where you play a bad nine holes and you just can’t afford to do that.
“Mentally I have to be better and bounce back better. I wasn’t able to do that this week but was today for the most part. If I can just be a bit better mentally then hopefully that will be the key for me.’’
