GOLF: Jason Day has gone wire-to-wire at The Players in Florida to secure one of the biggest wins of his career.

The world No. 1 endured a tough day at Sawgrass today but prevailed, carding a 71 to win by four shots at 15-under overall.

 Australia's top player has now won seven of his past 17 tournaments around the world, including a major (the US PGA last year), a World Golf Championship event (the Dell Matchplay) and the so-called fifth major (The Players). It is a stretch that compares with Tiger Woods at his very peak.

Day becomes the fourth Australian to win The Players behind Greg Norman, Steve Elkington and Adam Scott, who was the most recent in 2004.

Starting out at 14-under with a lead of four, Day made two bogeys on the front nine and saw the buffer reduced to two through the turn, before a birdie at the par-four 10th steadied him. Another birdie at the 12th, then a further birdie at the par-five 16th gave him all the buffer he needed, and no one could make a run from behind. 

At the treacherous island green 17th he only just carried the water, but made a steady, two-putt par, then walked to the 18th with the four-shot break over Kevin Chappell, and took an iron from the tee, splitting the fairway. A wedge to the green and two putts completed the task. 

His wife Ellie and children Dash and Lucy were there to greet him. His winner's cheque is around $US1.8 million, a victory that he set up with a course record-equalling 63 on Thursday.

It is his 10th PGA Tour win and he takes over the lead in the season-long Fedex Cup from Adam Scott as Australians continue to hole the top two places.

Scott had a great finish today, a 68 to finish tied-12th.

Golf Australia