Jason Day wins ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf

Australia's Jason Day defeated Thomas Bjorn of Denmark by two strokes to claim an emotional victory in the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf at Royal Melbourne GC.

Day lost eight family members in the typhoon that hit the Philippines last week and he showed fantastic resolve to complete the tournament with a four-round score of 10-under-par. Together with Adam Scott, who finished alone in third, Day also helped Australia win the team event and become World Cup winners for the fifth time.

"I found out last week that we lost some family members over in the Philippines and to have my mum here over the weekend, even to have my sisters and my nephew, to be here to be as a family knowing that I can hold them is very special to me," Day said.  

"To let them see me play some good golf and to win in front of a great sporting city like Melbourne, I am just happy that she is here and I get to hug her."

"It would have been the easiest thing for me to just go ahead and pull out of the tournament with what has been going on over the last week, just to be up there with my mum and support her. But I really wanted to come down here and play with Adam and really try and win the World Cup and we achieved that which is great."  

"We will most likely set something up and definitely be giving some money or raising money and trying to raise awareness to what has really happened over there."

"To have that lead going into Sunday with all that stuff going on, to finally finish off and hit a great shot into 18 like I did and to win like that was a very big move in my golfing career."

"It's taken me a while to get my second win and it couldn't be more fitting with Scotty by my side winning the World Cup down here in Melbourne."

Day began the final round one shot clear of Thomas Bjorn and ended it two ahead, but it wasn't all plain sailing for the Australian. Bjorn drew level on the fifth after he birdied and Day bogeyed. But the 26-year-old Aussie struck back at the sixth, holing out from the fairway for an eagle two.

Four ahead at the turn, it looked as though Day had the event sewn up. But his lead was cut by two when he found a bush from the tee on the 10th and dropped two shots as a result.

Bjorn managed to get on terms again with birdies at the 11th and 13th, but it was Day who held it together best down the stretch. He parred home from the 16th, while Bjorn dropped shots at the 16th and 18th holes.

Adam Scott closed with a fabulous 66 to finish the week in third place, just three behind Day. The Australians' combined score was 10 lower than the next best country - the USA represented by Matt Kuchar and Kevin Streelman. Denmark and Japan tied for third. ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf Royal Melbourne GC, Victoria, Australia Nov 21-24, purse $8,000,000, par 71

1   Jason Day (Aus)      68   70   66   70   274 2   Thomas Bjorn (Den)   66   68   71   71   276    3   Adam Scott (Aus)      75   68   68   66   277    4   Matt Kuchar (USA)   71   68   68   71   278    T5   Ryo Ishikawa (Jap)   71   71   70   69   281    T5   Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Tha) 71 70   70   70   281     7   Hideto Tanihara (Jap)   72   67   71   72   282    T8   David Hearn (Can)   70   71   71   71   283    T8   Stuart Manley (Wal)   67   72   72   72   283    T8   Kevin Streelman (USA)   66   69   74   74   283    T8   Francesco Molinari (Ita) 75   67   66   75   283   

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Where next? European Tour - Morten Orum Madsen wins South African Open