The Top 12 Holds Steady as Jason Day Returns to the Winner's Circle

After a long 1,835 days, Jason Day is a PGA Tour champion again.

The 35-year-old Aussie shot a bogey-free, 9-under 62 Sunday at the AT&T Byron Nelson for a one-stroke victory over Si Woo Kim and Austin Eckroat. It's Day's 13th Tour win and first since the 2018 Wells Fargo Championship.

Over the past few years, Day has endured many obstacles. He's battled back injuries, bouts with vertigo and rebuilt his swing. Last year, he lost his mother, Dening, to a five-year battle with cancer.

However, Day, a former world No. 1 and major champion, began to show flashes of his old self this season, recording six top-10s in 15 starts. Then, at TPC Craig Ranch, he finally got over the hump, ending a lengthy drought on Mother's Day with Dening on his mind.

"I was in tears for a little bit there," Day said, "and to think about what my mom went through from 2017 on to her passing last year and then to know that — it was very emotional to go through and to experience what she was going through, then I had injuries on top of all of that going on in my life. To be honest, I was very close to calling it quits."

Though it was a turbulent few years for Day, it only sweetened his return to the winner's circle.

"Delayed gratification is probably the best feeling of all time," he said. "Instant gratification is great, but delayed gratification is the best."

One stroke behind Day at 22 under was Eckroat. A year ago, Oklahoma State product had limited status on the Korn Ferry Tour. Twelve months later, he notched the 54-hole lead at the Nelson after a career-low 63 in Round 3. Though his final-round 65 left him just short of claiming his maiden Tour title, the 24-year-old rookie can take a lot from his best Tour finish.

"I really felt like I played well enough to win," said Eckroat, who moved from 118th to 51st on the U.S. Ryder Cup points list. "It's just hard to beat a guy that goes out and shoots 9 under. A lot of positives to build off of."

Eckroat shared the 54-hole lead with Ryan Palmer. The 46-year-old Texan, however, finished T-8 with a final-round 68, but still jumped from 107th to 85th in the Ryder Cup standings.

Palmer’s 2022 Zurich Classic teammate, Scottie Scheffler, finished T-5 at 20 under in his hometown event and maintained his strong lead in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings. The world No. 2, however, had a chance to win the event, but playing the back nine in 2 under wouldn't be enough.

Crediti foto: Getty Images

All in all, though, Scheffler's eighth top-10 of the season (tied for the most on Tour) has him feeling good about his game heading into the PGA Championship.

"Feel like I played solid," he said. "The things that I wanted to improve on over the last three weeks, I feel like I did a good job. I hit a lot of good putts this week. I think I struggled a little bit with the speed of the greens. I didn't swing it my best this weekend, but I'm sure that'll be an easy fix going into next week."

U.S. Team Captain Zach Johnson first announced the 2023 qualifying structure last year. Points in 2023 are awarded as follows:

- 1 point per $1,000 earned at regular PGA Tour events beginning January 1, including the Zurich Classic and WGC events, through the BMW Championship (August 20)

- 2 points per $1,000 earned for winner of the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open

- 1.5 points per $1,000 earned for all others that make the cut at the Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Open and The Open

- No points available at PGA Tour opposite-field events

Points qualification will conclude immediately after the second FedEx Cup Play-Off event (BMW Championship) on August 20, 2023, with the top six eligible players on the points list securing spots on the U.S. Team.

The six remaining slots on the U.S. Team will be Captain’s Selections and will be announced by Johnson following the 2023 Tour Championship.

For a full list of the Top 100 in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings, click here.