Sunday's Birdies and Bogeys

By golfdigest.com

August 15, 2015

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Birdie: Jason Day

On Wednesday, Jason Day assured everyone all of his previous close calls in major championships were a positive part of his development. On Sunday, he proved that to be true. Day looked much more like a guy with a handful of major titles than someone who had let a few chances to win slip through his hands. The Aussie took charge with four birdies on his first eight holes and beat Jordan Spieth head-to-head to take his name out of "the best player to have not won a major" conversation and break Tiger Woods' record for score relation to par at any major. For the 27-year-old Day, the question shifts from when will he break through at one of golf's four biggest events to how many of them will he win? -- Alex Myers

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Birdie: Jordan Spieth

That makes two straight majors where Jordan Spieth had a chance to win and didn't convert in the final round. Yet for a guy who triumphed at Augusta and Chambers Bay, that's two more chances than you probably expected. Spieth made just enough mistakes on Sunday to provide Jason Day a comfortable cushion, yet the fact that he was there at all speaks to his persistence. And he didn't go away completely empty-handed: With two major wins, a T-4 at the Open Championship, and a runner-up at Whistling Straits, Spieth's 54-under par total in the majors this year breaks Tiger Woods' record for the best ever aggregate score in the four big ones. And he also claimed the No. 1 spot in the world ranking. -- Sam Weinman

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Bogey: Martin Kaymer

Five years after his breakthrough win at Whistling Straits, Kaymer is leaving the course he calls his favorite in the United States disappointed. Kaymer's Sunday 73 left him with a T-12 finish after starting the day in the top five. The German's bogey at the par-5 fourth hole stopped the momentum he had gained after his birdie at the third hole, and he couldn't get anything going from there -- finishing with a rare over-par round on a day of low scoring. -- Stephen Hennessey

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Birdie: Whistling Straits

Yeah, we know, it's not a real links course, and is almost completely an artificial construction. But with the exception of perhaps Augusta National, name a golf course that looks better on TV, provides so many plot twists, and generates such worthy leader boards. The next time the best players in golf will be at Whistling Straits will be the 2020 Ryder Cup. We can't wait. -- S.W.

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Bogey: Dustin Johnson

Sure, the final score (69) and result (T-7) don't look too shabby, but we're well past moral victories for arguably the game's most talented player. For a third straight major, Johnson stormed out to a lead and for the 27th time in 27 career majors, he walked away without a trophy. Johnson started Sunday with an outside shot at catching the leaders, but a disastrous quadruple bogey on the opening hole ended his chances. This Sunday at Whistling Straits won't stay with him like 2010, but his 2015 campaign has to be frustrating. -- A.M.

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Birdie: Anirban Lahiri

Even with a finishing bogey, Anirban Lahiri locked up a top-five finish in a major -- becoming the first-ever Indian born player to do so. The 28-year-old who won the PGA Long Drive Contest on Tuesday never threatened the lead but he never left the first page of the leader board, only making one other bogey to go with six birdies. Already a two-time winner on the European Tour this season, this T-5 finish opens a lot of doors for Lahiri, one of which is playing in the U.S. more often. "This is massive for me," he said. -- S.H.

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Bogey: Rory McIlroy

A top-20 finish in his return from tearing a ligament in his ankle was a valiant effort, but injury or not, it's hard to label McIlroy's season in the majors anything other than a disappointment. The reigning British Open and PGA champ from 2014 was unable to add to his career major total in 2015. On top of that, he's lost his World No. 1 ranking. -- A.M.

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Bogey: Tony Finau

Although he entered the final round five shots behind Jason Day, Finau's hot putter made the rookie a dark horse pick to make some noise on Sunday. For a short time, this intrigue was lit, with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 5 and 6. Alas, a bogey on the seventh, followed by a triple-bogey on the ninth, derailed Finau's chances. Finau was able to bounce-back with an eagle on the 11th, but the damage was too much to overcome. -- Joel Beall

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Birdie: Brooks Koepka

If it wasn't for his front-nine 40 on Thursday, Brooks Koepka might've been in this thing. As it was, the long-hitting 25-year-old finished T-5 to move up inside the top-20 in the world. It's his third top 25 finish in the majors this year, following up a T-10 at St. Andrews and an 18th place at Chambers Bay. When you think about the fact he finished his last 61 holes at Whistling Straits at 18-under, the more his rising position as a U.S. star seems right. And with good finishes at the FedEx Cup, Koepka might get a nod as a Presidents Cup pick. -- S.H.

Photo By: Chris Carlson/AP Photo

Bogey: Matt Jones' final 22 holes

At its high point, Jones' PGA Championship venture reached 14 under. That number is significantly better than what Jones' final card reads. After playing Saturday's final hour holes in four over, the Australian failed to make a comeback bid on Sunday, turning in a fourth-round 75 . He had never placed better than 30th at a major; however, after owning the lead for most of the third round, his T-21 is a disappointment. -- J.B.

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Birdie: Bubba Watson

While the world waited for the marquee Day-Spieth pairing, Bubba kept the masses entertained. He drove the 326-yard sixth hole with a 3-wood, and hit it OVER the 404-yard 13th. Watson, the runner-up at Whistling Straits in 2010, would make eagle on No. 6 and birdie on No. 13, and finished with a four-under 68 on the afternoon. -- J.B.

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Bogey: Billy Horschel

We're all for character and personality. But if you're going to flaunt highlighter pants and trousers with shark prints, your play better back it up. Horschel's Sunday 75 failed to take a bite out of the leader board. Instead, he sank. -- J.B.

Photo By: Tom Pennington/Getty Images

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Sunday's Birdies and Bogeys

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Birdie: Jason Day

Birdie: Jordan Spieth

Bogey: Martin Kaymer

Birdie: Whistling Straits

Bogey: Dustin Johnson

Birdie: Anirban Lahiri

Bogey: Rory McIlroy

Bogey: Tony Finau

Birdie: Brooks Koepka

Bogey: Matt Jones' final 22 holes

Birdie: Bubba Watson

Bogey: Billy Horschel

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