CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It may not be a perfect comparison, but as Jason Day played Quail Hollow’s demanding closing stretch he had visions of LeBron James.
Day awoke early Sunday and immediately went to the Internet to check the highlights of Saturday’s NBA playoff game between Cleveland and Toronto, which was won by the Cavs when James hit a running buzzer-beater.
Tied for the lead with Aaron Wise late in the final round at the Wells Fargo Championship, Day made an 11-footer for birdie at the 16th hole and bounced his tee shot off the flagstick at the par-3 17th to set up a 3-foot birdie putt and a two-shot cushion.
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“To be clutch like that, it’s a lot of heart,” said Day, who lives in Columbus, Ohio. “It was probably a good thing that I watched LeBron’s buzzer-beater this morning instead of last night. That was awesome to watch this morning, so hopefully I can just pass that along in my game today.”
Wise, who tied Day for the lead with a birdie at the 14th hole and played Quail Hollow’s last three in even par, also drew inspiration from James’ game-winner.
“Me and my caddie actually talked about it,” said Wise, who tied for second with Nick Watney. “We made the turn going to 10, it’s that crunch time, it’s like the second half with LeBron. It’s an attitude you have to carry with yourself that you can get it done and I was able to do that today.”