AUGUSTA -- They likely won't be able to forget about Greg Norman's infamous Masters meltdown just yet, but Jason Day says Australians soon will.
Though he and countrymen Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy failed to become the first Aussie to win the Masters, they came close. Day birdied Nos. 17 and 18 to tie Scott for second at 12 under, and Ogilvy shot a 67 to move into a tie for fourth.
"I don't think there will be a drought for too long," Day said. "One of us will win that green jacket one day."
That's big talk from someone who just finished his first Masters, but Day played Augusta National like a veteran. He also prepared like a veteran. He played a practice round two weeks ago with a caddie who has 19 years of experience at Augusta. He said they played for six hours, analyzing the greens and approach shots. He also spoke with three-time Masters winner Nick Faldo.
He used that knowledge well all week. He got off to a shaky start on Sunday with a bogey on No. 1, but bounced back to birdie No. 2 to climb back to 8 under. Another bogey on No. 7 was answered with a birdie on No. 8. Then Day went to work, birdieing 12, 13, 17 and 18. He said he knew he needed to make up ground on the last two holes because Scott was two strokes ahead at the time.
Paired with him, Scott said he fed off Day's energy, birdieing 2, 7, 8, 11, 14 and 16. He saved par after hooking his drive on No. 17 into the bunker on No. 7. He had a chance to get to 13 under on No. 18, but ran his putt past the hole in what he described as not his best effort.
Playing ahead of them, Ogilvy came out of nowhere with seven birdies of his own, including five consecutive on Nos. 12-16.
From Adelaide on the Southern coast, where Scott and Ogilvy were born, to Beaudesert on the Eastern coast, where Day's from, they imagined Aussies were tuned in during the early morning hours to watch.
"It would have made the Masters exciting for them this year to have three guys contending on the back nine Sunday," Scott said. "It's been a while since we've had that I guess."
Yes, it has. The history is well known, capped by what is considered the biggest collapse in Masters history when Norman gave up a six-shot lead in the final round of the 1996 tournament.
In the end, they could only watch as Charl Schwartzel birdied the last four holes to win by two strokes. Both golfers said they did everything they could do. They didn't lose it like Norman did. Schwartzel won it.
"Obviously you've heard some stories about Greg around here and it's unfortunate that he feel short because he's such a fantastic golfer," Day said. "He's Australia's best golfer, ever, and you know, it was unfortunate that me or Scotty couldn't finish it off today."
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