Jason Day
Sep 20, 2015; Lake Forest, IL, USA; PGA golfer Jason Day poses with the Western Open and BMW trophies after winning the BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Reuters/Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Jason Day will finally take the No. 1 spot in the world golf rankings after winning at the BMW Championship in Illinois on Monday, becoming the third Australian to attain the top status in golf.

Day, who won for the fifth time this season and the fourth in his past six PGA Tour starts, will become world No. 1 after topping the BMW Championship at Conway Farm golf club, shooting 2-under-par 69 to close out at 22 under and six clear of Daniel Berger, while seven clear of Scott Piercy. The 27-year-old Day finished with a tournament-best 11.8 strokes gained tee-to-green.

Day has won twice in the playoffs, and will head into Atlanta for the Tour Championship as the No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings. Day will also enter the finale of the FedEx Cup playoffs as world No. 1 in golf rankings, overtaking Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth.

“It’s kind of been a dream run for me,” Day told the USA Today. “All I want to do is win. Ever since the (British) Open, my mind changed and my attitude has been to win.”

Day joined Tiger Woods as the only players to win five PGA Tour events in a season in the past 11 years. The Australian golf sensation also ranks fifth-best on the tour in strokes this season, and leads the tour in birdie with an average of 4.79, while at second place in scoring average with 69.16.

Day improved his chances of winning the PGA Tour player of the year award, battling wire-to-wire with Spieth, who was considered to be a sure-shot to win the individual award. Day still thinks the 22-year-old American is the favourite to win the award, but admitted he is hoping for himself to win at the Tour Championship by Coca-Cola.

Meanwhile, McIlroy and Spieth were non-factors in the FedEx Cup. McIlroy, who has been struggling in his game after an ankle injury, only managed 70 on Monday, despite two birdies and an eagle on the final five holes. The Irishman, along with Rickie Fowler and JB Holmes, finished eight back.

Spieth, on the other hand, finished 11 under and in a tie for 13th. Spieth contended at the BMW Championship, but confessed he was lacking confidence and consistency in his game.

“I didn’t really have my game this week, maybe like a C game,” Spieth told Golf. “To play the weekend even par was disappointing.”

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