SPRINGFIELD, N.J. – As he walked down the 18th fairway after setting himself up for a potential eagle, Jason Day searched for a scoreboard. When he saw he was three shots behind Jimmy Walker, Day flipped his putter in the air and didn't catch it as it dropped to the ground.
He pretty much knew he wasn't catching Walker, either, in the PGA Championship.
The defending champion had said, after completing his first 18 holes on a marathon closing Sunday at Baltusrol, that he was "excited" for the afternoon chase. As darkness closed in, though, not even sinking that eagle putt on the finishing par 5 was enough for the world's No. 1 player.
Still, he was wearing a big smile as he left the green with a 13-under 287 total and a final-round, 3-under 67. Day shared hugs with Jordan Spieth and Ricky Fowler. Then he lifted his 4-year-old son, Dash, who was crying.
Day — and Dash — watched on TV as Walker came to the 18th green needing a par on the course's easiest hole. Walker matched Day's 67 with his first bogey-free round in a major.
Then the Australian made his way to greenside to congratulate Walker after the American's 3-footer fell for the victory.
"Great stuff, mate," he told Walker.
Day fell short mainly because he bogeyed two of his first three holes in the final round after beginning it one shot behind Walker, who won his first major — just as Day did a year ago in the event at Whistling Straits.
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