Jason Day joined an elite group with his WGC Matchplay win this week becoming only the fourth Australian to claim one of the Championships since their inception in 1999.

Day follows in the footsteps of Geoff Ogilvy, twice a winner at the Matchplay as well as the 2008 Cadillac Championship, Craig Parry (2002 Cadillac Championship) and Adam Scott (2011 Bridgestone Invitational).

The 26-year-old Queenslander survived a gruelling week, and an epic final against Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, to claim the trophy.

Day’s victory means Australia can lay claim to a total of six WGC titles, second only to the US and one ahead of third placed England.

At a personal level Day jumped to fourth in the Official World Golf Rankings behind only Tiger Woods, Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson.

It is Day’s highest ever world ranking and marks the first time since 2008 that two Australian players have been inside the top five at the same time when Adam Scott and Geoff Ogilvy were ranked three and four.

Day was confident about his chances right from the beginning of the week when he told AAP’s Ben Everill: "I am never going to quit or beat myself and I am never going to give up against anyone so they will have to come out and beat me."

Day proved true to his word, surviving a testing 22-hole match against American Billy Horschel in the second round and then two freakish up and downs in extra time from his opponent Dubuisson in the final.

"I think the biggest thing I was thinking was, just how much do I want it, how much do I want to win?" Day said after the match.

"I kept visualising myself with the trophy last night. I’ve never wanted something so bad in my life.

"The best thing about this (match play event) was every day felt like a Sunday and you got the chance to deal with your nerves.

"I had to dig down deep and keep fighting and I’m thrilled to pull it off."

The only other Australian in the field this week was Marc Leishman who lost to Sergio Garcia in a 22-hole match in the first round.