Number one spot consoles Spieth after major defeat

Jordan Spieth

Kohler (United States): Jordan Spieth failed to add a third major title to his 2015 resume, but with his runner-up finish to Jason Day at Whistling Straits, the 22-year-old claimed another coveted honor: the world number one ranking.


Jordan Spieth. Pic/AFP

Spieth, the Masters and US Open winner, was touted as the player headed for history at the 97th PGA Championship, where he had a chance to join legendary Ben Hogan and superstar Tiger Woods as the only men to win three majors in a year.

But Day thwarted that dream with a record-setting 20-under par winning total for a three-stroke win over Spieth, who nevertheless dislodged Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy from the number one spot he had held for 55 consecutive weeks.

"This is as easy a loss as I've ever had because felt that I not only couldn't do much about it, as the round went on, I also accomplished one of my life-long goals in the sport of golf," Spieth said yesterday.

"That will never be taken away from me now. I'll always be a number one player in the world," added the American, the second-youngest to ascend the summit behind Woods, who was 21 when he first reached number one in 1997.

Despite the outcome on Sunday, Spieth has produced a remarkable 2015 campaign, capturing the Masters and US Open and missing a playoff by one stroke at the British Open to finish equal fourth before his runner-up effort at Whistling Straits.

Spieth's solo second place meant McIlroy needed a top-six finish to stay number one, and the 26-year-old came up short with a final-round 69 that left him in 17th place on 279 in his defense of the PGA crown he won at Valhalla last year.

"The way Jordan has been playing and the way I haven't played much this year ... if he goes to number one today, it's very deservedly so," said McIlroy, who walked off the course 90 minutes before the last putts fell.