Despite dropping five shots over four days at the par-5 16^th hole Jason Day finished equal best of the Australians at the WGC Bridegestone Invitational and confirmed himself one of the favourites for next week’s PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

The Queenslander will be beyond frustrated
with his performance at Firestone’s signature par-5 but, that hole aside,
played some quality golf to finish just outside the top-10.

An early Sunday charge had Day within four
shots of the lead at one point but the difficult back nine took its toll, three
dropped shots adding up to a 1-under 69 and a share of 12^th place.

Day’s struggles at the 16^th hole
came as a surprise, especially the triple bogey eight he racked up Saturday
after hitting into the pond in front of the green twice.

Far more telling, however, were Day’s 13
birdies over the course of the week, easily enough to be in contention on a
course that played difficult all four days.

While Day’s difficulties were a surprise
so, too, was the bounce back of Steven Bowditch after a disastrous final round
at last week’s Quicken Loans tournament.

The Queenslander produced one of the rounds
of the week on Saturday, a 7-under 63 that vaulted him into a share of fourth
and booked a tee time with eventual champion Shane Lowry in the second to last
group Sunday.

Since claiming his first PGA TOUR title
last year Bowditch has gone from strength to strength and while always capable
of flashes of brilliance has this year found more of the consistency required
to contend regularly at the top level.
 
A final round 72 was disappointing but hardly disastrous on a course which saw
some of the best in the world struggle.

Bowditch and Day were the only two
Australians to finish the week under par, Marc Leishman next best at 2-over and
T33 ahead of Adam Scott (T45), Andrew Dodt (T63) and Nick Cullen (T75).