Jason Day breaks major record to win US PGA

AUSTRALIA’S Jason Day created history, and prevented Jordan Spieth from doing so, by ending a run of near-misses with a brilliant first major victory in the US PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

Jason Day of Australia became the first player to finish a major championships at 20 under. Picture: Getty

Day carded a final round of 67 to become the first player to finish a major on 20 under par, beating the previous record of 19 under set by Tiger Woods in the 2000 Open at St Andrews.

The 27-year-old was in tears even before tapping in for par on the 18th, where he was embraced by his caddie and mentor Col Swatton, son Dash and wife Ellie, who is pregnant with the couple’s second child.

Spieth was looking to become only the third player after Woods and Ben Hogan to win three majors in a season, but a closing 68 meant he finished three shots behind and had to settle for overtaking Rory McIlroy to become the second youngest world number one behind Woods.

The 22-year-old also finished a remarkable 54 under par for the year’s four majors, one better than Woods in 2000 when he won the US Open, Open Championship and US PGA.