Jason Day emphatically matched the effort of boyhood idol Greg Norman in capturing the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

The World No. 1 was in a class of his own winning by four shots with a 15-under par tally on the Stadium course at Ponte Vedre in Florida.

After equalling Norman’s course record on day one with a nine under par 63, Day then added his name to the PGA Tour flagship trophy to win a first event as the game’s reigning top-ranked player.

In doing so, Day also joined Norman who was World No. 1 when the ‘Great White Shark’ stormed to a similar four shot victory in capturing the tournament with a record of 24-under par.

New Players Championship winner Jason Day congratulated by Rickie Fowler who had missed the cut in the defence of his title. (Photo – @pgatour)

One of the very first text messages Day received was from Norman.

The 28-year old fellow Queenslander has now won as Major Championship, a World Golf Championship crown and now the PGA Tour’s top title to join Tiger Woods, Martin Kaymer, Phil Mickelson and fellow Aussie Adam Scott to do so in their careers.

Day not only joins Norman as winner of the Players Championship but fellow Australians Adam Scott and Steve Elkington.

LIST OF AUSTRALIAN-BORN PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS

Jason Day – 2016

Adam Scott – 2004

Greg Norman – 1994

Steve Elkington – 1991 & 1997

The winning scorecard. 👍🏻

Jason Day moves to No. 1 in the FedExCup standings. pic.twitter.com/g9ToQpYj1S

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 15, 2016

Day’s victory, in just his 10th event this year, is his third this season after winning the back-to-back Arnold Palmer Invitational and the following week’s WGC – Dell Match-Play Championship.

He also joins Tiger Woods (2000, 2002), Tom Watson (1980) and Johnny Miller (1974) as the only players to win wire-to-wire twice in the same season dating to 1970.

Day was greeted on the final green moments after his victory by son, Dash along with wife, Ellie and new daughter, Lucy.

“It is such a big accomplishment for me in my career to be able to finally win as World No. 1 and then to go wire-to-wire is very special,” he said.

“But then I am just glad I don’t have to play the course again. (smiling)

“However it was tough out there and I know it was easy to lose a bit of focus on the front side, especially with a four shot lead, but I just kept on telling myself to keep myself in it and give yourself the opportunity on thDaye backside.

“So I managed to play real solid golf on the backside and very pleased to walk away with the championship.

“But then the key now to winning wire-to-win is just keep saying to myself to stick to the process and then working hard and learning from the values you have along the way.  You always must learn and I am just glad to convert another one, and I am already looking forward to many more of them.

“But right now I am just trying to soak-up as much as I can.”

Day collected the biggest single prize cheque of his pro career, a whopping $US 1.890,000 compared to the $US 450,000 Norman was handed in 1994 while the difference that is $US 1,440,00o is what Scott won in 2004.

Day also moves to the top of the FedEx Cup points table after winning his seventh PGA Tour success in his last 17 starts dating back to the 2015 RBC Canadian Open, and an event he won the week following his disappointment at St. Andrews.

Victory also is Day’s 10th on the PGA Tour:-