Final-hole bogey costs Jason Day six figures but he still finishes on the podium as he builds for the majors

Jason Day cost himself an extra six-figures with a final-hole fade-out in California but still made a tidy sum for his podium finish.

Jason Day left the third event of the US PGA Tour season confident he still had some “really good stuff” when it mattered despite a final-hole bogey costing him second spot, and roughly $300,000, at the American Express in California.

Having dropped from inside the top 20 on the world rankings to closer to 50 towards the end of 2024, Day is searching for the sort of consistency that could help him contend at major championships again and add to his 2015 PGA Championship win.

His final round in La Quinta was his worst, on the scorecard at least, and a chip-in for birdie on his ninth hole was a highlight as he tied for third after rounds of 64, 66, 67 and 69. But two bogeys on his way to the clubhouse, including on the 18th hole, left Day three shots short of winner Sepp Straka, having never really threatened the leader but consoling himself with an $820,000 cheque.

Soft touch, played to perfection! 💯@JDayGolf moves to T3 after this chip-in.

📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/GRfLLGOC8G

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 19, 2025

Day will next tackle the Farmer’s Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, which he has won twice in 2015 and 2018, with building confidence.

“I wish I could have had the 18th tee ball back, it was a very uncommitted shot there. But overall I feel like the stats this week were very solid from tee to green,” he said.

“Could have done a little bit better on the greens, but I think with a lie/loft adjustment and then also some putting practice, I think that I should be back on top of it. Short game felt pretty good. Overall very pleased.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in contention like that, so it’s nice to be able to stand there and hit some of the shots that I did knowing that, OK, under the pump you still got some really good stuff in there, let’s just kind of build on that going forward.”

Day is a former world No.1 but knows he has to keep advancing the weaker areas of his game to keep contending as he’d like.

“I feel like I gave myself a lot of opportunities out there, I’m a good putter, so I just didn’t capitalise on the opportunities,” he said.

“I could probably do a better job of painting a better picture before I hit the shot too, just being able to see the putt go in a little bit better. Overall, very happy with the week, good start to the year, so just moving to Torrey Pines.”

Cam Davis was the next best Australian, also closing with a closing three-under 69 to finish in a tie for 18th.

Originally published as Final-hole bogey costs Jason Day six figures but he still finishes on the podium as he builds for the majors