The first edition of the Grant Thornton Invitational certainly lived up to the hype, as an enthralling finish at Tiburon Golf Club ended with Lydia Ko and Jason Day picking up the top prize.
It had been a back-and-forth Sunday but, following six birdies, including four on the back nine, the pair picked up the $1 million first prize and the bragging rights of the inaugural winners of the tournament.
Going into the final day, it was Ko and Day who led following rounds of 58 and 66 and, in the modified four-ball format, a number of pairs were starting to make moves with Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners vaulting up the leaderboard on Sunday, as an up-and-down front nine moved them to within touching distance.
Carding two eagles, two birdies and a double bogey on the front, they steadied the ship on the back, as birdies at the 10th were followed with four straight gains at the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th to move into the outright lead.
Day and Ko weren't giving in and, with three birdies in a five hole run on the back nine, they pulled alongside the Canadian duo to set up a thrilling finale. What's more, when Madelene Sagstrom and Ludvig Aberg fired a final round 60 to get to 24-under, the duo weren't out of contention yet...
As Henderson and Conners finished their Sunday with a nine-under-par round of 63, both Day and Ko had two holes remaining to find a birdie and overtake the duo. Approaching the par 5 17th, that is exactly what transpired, as Ko hit a delightful fairway wood which caused her playing partner, Day, to blare out "that is so nice!"
The Aussie was correct and, as Ko was faced with 10-feet for eagle, her attempt did just slide by. However, the birdie put the pair at 26-under and one shot clear playing the ninth (their 18th).
With both Ko and Day finding the fairway, it was Ko who found the par, with her approach landing on the green and her birdie putt finishing within tap-in range, as a final round of 66 gave the pair a one shot victory over Henderson and Conners.
