"Just to play the way I did on the back nine was very, very special. The whole game today felt really, really nice and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.
"Myself and G-Mac, we really didn't play our best, but you've just got to do enough.
"I've got Matt Kuchar tomorrow, and I know he's very slow and steady, hits a lot of fairways and greens and can roll the rock when he can, and I'm looking forward to that."
Day never trailed Watson but didn't have the same luxury against McDowell, falling two down through three holes. But he clawed back to all square on the seventh and took the lead on the 11th with a birdie.
He had numerous chances throughout the match to make moves but his usually hot putter was surprisingly cold. When he lost the 14th hole to be back square, the match become a real nailbiter.
Day won the 15th and McDowell the 16th before the Northern Irishman slipped with a bogey on 17. This allowed Day a 1-up lead down the last.
When McDowell couldn't convert a tricky downhill birdie from 4.5m on the last, all Day had to do was tap in from 60cm to advance.
"For some reason, I just knew it was going to go to 18," Day said.
"G-Mac sticks around. He's obviously played on a lot of the European Ryder Cup teams, and he's very experienced when it comes to a lot of pressure and the match play format.
"So I'm very, very excited that I had the chance to get it 1-up."
-AAP
