2015 USPGA in quotes: Jason has his Day, Spieth is No1

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  • Jason Day won the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

    The 2015 PGA Championship served up plenty of drama over four days at Whistling Straits, with Jason Day FINALLY winning the first major of his golfing career. 

    Here, from Zach Johnson's drinking habits to Rory McIlroy's love of football, Sport360 rounds up the best quotes from the year's final major. 

    1) First up, Tiger Woods tacitly acknowledges prior to the tournament that he did not expect to win:

    “I'm just trying to get better. I'm just trying to get up there where I can win tournaments, get my game organised so I can be consistent on a tournament basis where I'm going to give myself a chance to win each and every event I play in.” 

    Tiger Woods: Ever the optimist.

    2) Open champion Zach Johnson, when asked what he’s been doing with the Claret Jug:

    “We've had a number of beverages in there.”

    Zach Johnson with his favourite drinking receptacle!

    3) Dustin Johnson, on the ‘bunker’ that cost him a chance of victory in the same event five years ago:

    “This year I don't have to worry about it, there's a grand stand there. Thank you, PGA. I appreciate that!”

    4) Jason Day on the task facing him as he looked to win his first major: 

    “It's very difficult to try and close on a Sunday at a major championship, but I think the more times that I keep putting myself there, the more opportunities that I give myself, sooner or later it's going to happen.”

    Jason Day was out to end his major drought.

    5) The returning Rory McIlroy confirms he will continue to play football, despite his recent ankle injury:

    “I enjoy that part of my life. I enjoy having that normality in my life, something that I've done since I was a kid. I won't stop doing that, no.”

    6) Rival Jordan Spieth on McIlroy’s return:

    “It's great. We're all very happy to see him back. I was excited and what an incredible rehab that was to get back so soon and to get to 100%.”

    7) McIlroy after back-to-back rounds of 71 to start:

    “That was probably one of the most surprising things about [the first round], is how quickly I got back into the mindset of tournament golf and being aggressive.”

    8) Woods, after missing the cut by a considerable distance:

    “What now? I'm going to go home and watch the leaders tee off and play. Probably in Florida. Actually, I'll go to my sports bar, how about that?”

    9) Brian Gaffney, after emerging as the only PGA club professional to make the halfway cut:

    “It's not the only goal, but it's something that validates the hard work that I've put in over the years … I don't know, hopefully my kids some day down the road will see some of these articles and be proud.”

    Brian Gaffney was the lowest-finishing club professional.

    10) Australian Matt Jones after taking a two-shot lead after the second round. He would ultimately finish just outside the top-20:

    “For me, it's amazing to be in the lead at a major. I've been in the lead on a Tour event, but a major's a different story. But I'm going to have fun with it.”

    11) Day struck a confident tone ahead of the final day:

    “I've been in positions where I've been close to the lead going into Sunday, been tied for the lead … but to have a two-shot lead is pretty sweet.”

    12) Phil Mickelson (-8) evaluates his tournament:

    “I'm close. I'm sick of saying that. I'm tired of not being there yet. It keeps getting better and better and I keep hitting more and more good shots each round, but I keep making some dumb mistakes.”

    13) Indian Anirban Lahiri (-13, T5th) manages to spot the disappointment from an otherwise glorious week:

    “I think a couple of shots better would have got my card on the PGA TOUR. So a little bummed about that.”

    14) Spieth, who finished second but nevertheless become world No. 1 for the first time:

    "The middle of the round I had a chance to get back level and I didn’t. That was killer. Man, we battled it at the end. It was Jason’s day today. He really didn’t miss a shot. [But the World No. 1 spot] is as good a consolation prize as I’ve ever had!"

    Jordan Spieth: New World No. 1

    15) 2015 US PGA champion Jason Day (-20), after rounding off his victory in style:

    "I did not expect I was going to cry. A lot of emotion has come out, just because I have been so close in so many major championships before. To be able to play the way I did, and finish the way I did, was just amazing."

    16) Day’s son, Dash, immediately after his father had clinched victory:

    “Can we go home?”

    Jason Day's son was just happy his dad finished playing.

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