Jason Day of Australia took the No. 1 spot in the World Golf Rankings from Rory McIlroy by coasting to a six-stroke victory over rookie Daniel Berger in the BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Ill.
Day, who leads the FedEx Cup rankings and is one of five players who can claim the Cup with a victory in the Tour Championship next Sunday, closed with a 2-under-par 69 and never was challenged. His lead never slipped below four strokes.
“It’s tough to explain,” said Day, who has won four times in his last six starts and five times this season on the PGA Tour. “That’s been my mind-set ever since I won the PGA (Championship last month). I knew I had to win and win consistently if I wanted to be No. 1.
“I felt a lot of pressure the last few days, especially today. Somebody could have gone low and if I shoot 1- or 2-over I don’t win and I’m not No. 1. So to win and become No. 1 is fantastic.”
Berger, whose previous best result this season was a playoff loss to Padraig Harrington in the Honda Classic, birdied three of the first five holes on the back nine en route to a final-round 69.
Scott Piercy of San Diego State, who won the Barbasol Championship in July for his third PGA Tour victory, birdied four of the last five holes including a nine-foot putt on the final hole to wind up seven shots back in solo third.
McIlroy, who had lost the No. 1 spot to Jordan Spieth twice recently, shot 70 and was seven shots back in a tie for fourth with Rickie Fowler of Murrieta, who had a 69, and J.B. Holmes, who carded a 68.
Dustin Johnson finished with a 70 and was eight strokes behind in a tie for seventh with Cameron Tringale of Laguna Niguel, who totaled 66, and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who also had a 66.
Bubba Watson posted a 65 and another shot behind in a tie for 10th with Henrik Stenson of Sweden, who shot 67, and Kevin Na of Diamond Bar, who wound up at 71.
Day, Spieth, Fowler, Stenson and Watson are the top five in the point standings and can claim the FedEx Cup by winning the Tour Championship next week at East Lake in Atlanta.
Among those who finished outside the top 30 and failed to qualify for the Tour Championship are defending FedEx Cup champion Billy Horschel and Phil Mickelson, who both tied for 32nd after 67s, and Hunter Mahan, who has played in all 35 events in the history of the playoffs, who also tied for 32nd after a 72.
