5 Jul 2016

Day folds in final round

7:22 am on 5 July 2016

World No.1 Jason Day spectacularly collapsed late to hand US Open champion Dustin Johnson his second win in as many starts at the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational

Jason Day reacts to missing a putt.

Jason Day reacts to missing a putt. Photo: Photosport

Johnson posted a four-under-66 final round to rocket up to six-under-274 for the championship while Day, who held the lead for most of the round dropped three shots in two holes late to crash out.

Sitting seven under with four holes to play at Firestone Country Club Day missed a four-foot par putt on the 15th before butchering the par-fivE 16th with a double bogey seven.

His tee shot went way left and ended up behind dense trees, a punch shot under them ended up in the right rough and despite a fortunate ruling of a free drop after a spectator moved his ball behind a tree Day then punched his third into water.

His fifth shot went long and two shots later his championship was effectively over.

Needing to finish birdie birdie to force a playoff Day's effort from the fringe on the 17th came up short and then a wild drive on 18 ended any hopes of a miracle hole out.

He finished with a two-over-72 to be tied third at three under with Jordan Spieth, Matt Kuchar and Kevin Chappell.

Scott Piercy took second alone at five under.

It was a triple bogey eight in the same hole, albeit in the third round, that scuppered Day's hopes in the 2015 event.

Day kick-started his chase for the win with a chip in eagle on the second hole and while he gave up a bogey on the ninth a birdie on 10 quickly ensured he stayed out in front.

As Johnson made a charge with back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14 Day holed an impressive 15-foot par saving putt from the rough on the 13th to maintain his lead.

But then it all unravelled.