Day finishes runner up in Puerto Rico
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2009 Puerto Rico Open | Round Four | 16 Mar 2009
Jason Day has secured his best finish to date on the PGA Tour after finishing joint runner up behind Michael Bradley at the Puerto Rico Open today. Day earns US$308,000 for his efforts and takes his season earnings on the PGA Tour to US$449,000 in just four starts.
Day was unable to match his playing partner Michaels Bradley’s birdie at the par five last hole after he and Bradley had fought it out over the closing stages. Day and Bradley had started the final round tied at 10 under but a double bogey at the par five 2nd by the 21-year-old had Bradley in front on his own.
The 21-year-old from Queenslander battled his way back to rejoin Bradley in the lead by the 13th but over the closing stages it was the two time PGA Tour winner, Bradley, who edged ahead. Day was unable to get up and down for the necessary birdie from the greenside trap.
“I got off to a pretty rough start,” said Day after his round. “I double-bogeyed the second par 5, and you can’t make those mistakes on par-5s. And pretty much that cost me the tournament.”
“I’m disappointed that I couldn’t finish it off, but I’m very happy with myself that I actually put myself into contention, and I held my head up, and I nearly won the tournament.”
Day is in his second season on the PGA Tour but has limited status in 2009 having missed out on the top 125 in 2009. Day was unable to regain his full playing privileges at the PGA Tour School last season but will still be likely to get at least 20 starts this season and finishes like this should ensure that Day is back with full status on the PGA Tour in 2010, if not before.
Aron Price finished 31st, Matt Jones 44th and Jarrod Lyle 69th.
Brett Quigley birdied two of his last three holes to join Day in a share of second while Bart Bryant and Day’s good friend Greg Chalmers shared 4th place.
