AUSTRALIAN WINS EPIC CLIMAX TO WORLD MATCH-PLAY

                    Australian Jason Day with the World Match-play Championship Trophy
                                     Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

Magnificent Dubuisson denied by Day at 23rd

 hole in the championship's most thrilling final

 

Frenchman Victor Dubuisson was denied victory on his World Golf Championships debut by Australia's World No 4 Jason Day in the most thrilling final in the history of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Dubuisson edged out South African Ernie Els by one hole in the morning semi-finals before taking on Day, who beat American Rickie Fowler 3 and 2 in the other last-four clash.
Last November Day and Adam Scott won the World Cup team title for Australia and Day took the individual honours in Melbourne.

Day looked set for victory at two up with two to play in the final but Dubuisson fought back in sublime fashion with up-and-downs from sand on the 17^th and 18^th to win both holes.

The 23 year old Frenchman kept the match alive with miraculous shots from cacti following errant approaches on the first two extra holes, saving par both times, and had a 20ft putt to win on the 22^nd, which came up agonisingly short.

His short game was magnificent all day, but on the 23^rd hole his chip from thick rough ran way past the flag, and Day’s par was enough to clinch the title and the US $1,530,000 first prize.

Dubuisson’s performance drew comparisons with the late Seve Ballesteros for his never-say-die attitude and ability to conjure shots from nowhere, and he described the two chips from the desert as “amazing”.

“I just played them like I had nothing to lose,” he said. “I’m happy but at the same time disappointed, because this afternoon I didn't play very well. I just battled, especially on the back nine. 

“I made some good shots, but Jason made some very good putts during the round. His birdie on the par five was amazing. And then he made a very important putt to win.

“I tried to do my best.  I tried to fight back. I made a good birdie on the 17th, but in a play-off, you never know how it can go. Next time I will be ready.” 

Dubuisson is virtually assured of his place on the European Ryder Cup team in September, achieving his main goal for the season.

“I didn’t like to say it was my number one target, because that would have put extra pressure on me, but it was my number one target,” he added.

“I'm very excited and this was very good preparation for me because now I know what I need to work on.” 

Day praised Dubuisson’s comeback, saying: “Coming down the stretch he was just unbelievable. I've never seen someone as young, apart from Jordan Spieth, and in the old days Tiger Woods, be so clutch, especially out of the cactus. 

“I kept shaking my head because it was so surprising. There were a couple of times where I thought he was absolutely dead. The tournament was mine. I just stuck through it and it was tough, but I'm glad I got it done.”

 

RESULTS 
Semi-finals
J Day (Australia) bt R Fowler (USA) 3 and 2.
V Dubuisson (France) bt E Els (S Africa) 1 hole.
Final
Day bt Dubuisson at 23rd
Third-place play-off
Fowler bt Els at 19th

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