Jason Day took a shot from the shoreline as he made a stunning par on the 18th hole at Pebble Beach and he is pleased with his start to the year despite finishing in a tie for second.
Former world number one Day was hoping to force a play-off with Ted Potter Jr when he stepped up at the last, but, after bombing his drive down the middle of the fairway, the Australian chose to use his driver off the deck with the aim of reaching the long par-five's green in two.
However, his second shot drifted left, bounced off the sideboarding of the green and ended up on the beach.
Day's third landed in the front greenside bunker, from where he managed to set up a 20-yard downhill putt that he drained for a dramatic par.
"My big thing was when I was standing out there, there was a big wind in from right to left on the second shot and I'm trying to win the tournament, I'm trying to get into a play-off somehow – if I can get it on the green, I'll be able to get at least put a little bit of pressure on him. You never know what's going to happen," said Day when reflecting on his exploits.
"But, unfortunately, I hit it a little fat and kind of flipped over and went left. It was down on the beach. I said I'm either going to man up and play right now or head back another 200 yards and play from there, and I didn't want to do that, so I just went up and I guessed on the line.
"Went over the back and the bunker shot wasn't as good as I expected because there was really hard pan underneath it. But coming away, holing that putt was nice.
"I wanted to really finish strong. My goal was to win, so I had to try and at least do something to give myself a shot at it."
Day, whose only major triumph came at the US PGA Championship three years ago, was nevertheless pleased to be in contention again having won the Farmers Insurance Open last time out.
"It's good. I know can I improve. I feel like there's a lot of room for improvement," said Day.
"My wedge play needs to improve, my iron play needs to improve, my driver's actually been pretty decent – wasn't as great as it was at Farmers, but there's still a lot to improve on.
"If I keep doing what I'm doing, finishing first and second in the first two events [of the year], and cut out the blemishes, then hopefully it will be more like 2015."
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