Golf

Jason Day blows away the field and takes world number one spot

The Australian won his second FedEx event and dismantles Rory McIlroy as number one

Jason Day led from start to finish at the BMW Championship to win by six shots and overtake Rory McIlroy at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking. Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Jason Day led from start to finish at the BMW Championship to win by six shots and overtake Rory McIlroy at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking. Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Sun Sept 20 2015 - 23:26

Australian Jason Day landed the BMW Championship title on Sunday and soared to the top of golf's world rankings for the first time.

A fourth win in six tournaments sees 27-year-old Day replace Rory McIlroy at the top of the rankings.

He finished on 22 under par at Conway Farms, outside Chicago, to claim an emphatic six-shot victory.

Day had a final round of 69 to make sure of the title, having set up his run at the silverware with scores of 61, 63 and 69 on the opening three days.

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American Daniel Berger also closed with a two-under 69 to reach 16 under for the week and earn outright second place, with Scott Piercy making birdie at the last to clinch third at 15 under and JB Holmes, Rickie Fowler and McIlroy tying for fourth one further shot adrift.

Day said on Sky Sports 4: “I feel good. Just all the work ever since I was a little kid trying to get to number one in the world and today I did it, which was great.

“To have an opportunity, knowing I had to win this week to gain that spot, and stepping up and doing it was fantastic.”

He follows in the steps of a fellow Queenslander, Greg Norman, in sitting on top of the rankings.

Being his sport’s top player is an experience that Day could come to be comfortable with, but hitting the summit for the first time had him struggling to explain his emotions.

“I’m not really thinking about it right now. It doesn’t feel real,” he said.

“Knowing the Shark (Norman) spent 331 weeks up the top of the world ranking list — a very long time — and next week’s going to be my first week.”

The Tour Championship, starting on Thursday, is next in Day’s sights, and he is in the driving seat to scoop the FedEx Cup.

“I’m going to take Monday and Tuesday off,” Day said.

“I’m going to go home (to Westerville, Ohio) and then I’ll fly down to Atlanta on Tuesday night. Try to get as much rest as possible. The last two days have been very stressful for me.

“Emotionally it’s been very up and down inside. I may not show it but inside I’m going up and down.

“I’ve got to try to reset everything. After this week, after my celebration tonight, it’s done. I’ve got to get into next week and try to win the FedEx Cup.”