Jason Day Ends Long Winless Drought With AT&T Byron Nelson Victory

Day hasn’t won a PGA Tour event in five years. Now, he’s back in the winner’s circle with the PGA Championship next on the schedule.

In 2010, a 22-year-old Jason Day broke through to capture his maiden PGA Tour victory at this very tournament, then known as the HP Byron Nelson Championship. The win set Day on a steady path of success, one which eventually led him to claim the world No. 1 position, but it has been six years since he first earned that coveted title. 

Since Day’s last PGA Tour victory at the 2018 Wells Fargo—1,835 days ago—he’s battled a bad back, swing changes, bouts of vertigo and the loss of his mother to lung cancer just over a year ago. 

The Australian’s personal struggles led to many obstacles on the golf course that he had yet to overcome. Until now: A final round of 8-under 62 lifted Day to a one shot victory at the 2023 AT&T Bryson Nelson.

MORE: Full payouts from the AT&T Byron Nelson

“It’s been a struggling few years—five years actually since my last win—to be able to get the win with the way I played today was really special, so I’m really pleased and happy with the way things have progressed over the last couple of years for me,” Day said

Fittingly, Day’s long awaited victory came on Mother’s Day. 

“I lost my mom last year, and this was kind of the first one without her,” Day said, standing next to his wife, Ellie, and his four children. “To have her name on my caddie bib was special. And then obviously Ellie, the amount of sacrifice she does for me and my career, I can’t thank her enough.”

Day has been trending towards this moment all season long. He posted 11 top 20 finishes in 16 starts for the 2022-23 PGA Tour season. His best finishes came at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play where he tied for fifth and the WM Phoenix Open, where he walked away with a solo fifth-place finish. 

From a mechanics perspective, Day’s steady play can largely be attributed to his work with swing coach Chris Como, who helped him shallow out his move in an attempt to protect his back. 

“Just nonstop grinding and nonstop wanting to improve and get better,” Day said of his journey back to the winner’s circle. “I’ve had a lot of injuries with my back and for a moment there I thought I wasn’t going to play again, and then just trying to get through those two years. Just trying to get through a tournament was difficult. To be on the other side of it, to be healthy, finally feeling good about my game. There’s no better feeling really.”

With a final round 8-under 62, Day triumphed over Si Woo Kim and Oklahoma State product Austin Eckroat, who each finished tied for second at 22 under par. Eckroat had a chance to force a playoff with Day on the 18th, with a 68-foot putt for eagle which ended six feet from the hole. 

C.T. Pan, who just recently returned to competition from a wrist injury, shot a career-low round of 62 to snag solo fourth. 

The 2023 Players champion, Scottie Scheffler, was in the mix all week as well, but couldn’t capitalize on the birdie opportunities coming down the stretch at TPC Craig Ranch, carding a 6-under 65 with four straight pars to finish. 

“I hit a lot of good putts this week,” Scheffler said. “I didn’t swing it my best this week, but I’m sure that will be an easy fix coming into next week.”