| -17 J Rahm (Spa); -15 Mr. Homa (United States); -14 P Cantlay (USA); -13 W Zalatoris (USA); -11 S Theegala (USA), C Morikawa (USA), K Mitchell (USA) |
| Others selected: -8 S Scheffler (USA); -7 S Lowry (Ire); -6 D Willett (Eng); -5 J Thomas (USA); T Fleetwood (Eng); -4 R McIlroy (NI); -1 T Woods (USA) |
| Full ranking |
Jon Rahm reclaimed his world number one spot with a 17-under-267 win at the Genesis Invitational in California.
The Spaniard scored under 69 in his final round on Sunday to beat American Max Homa by two strokes and win his 10th PGA Tour title.
The win puts Rahm ahead of American Scottie Scheffler, who was nine strokes behind, at the top of the standings.
It is the 28-year-old’s third victory on the PGA Tour in 2023 and his fifth victory in his last nine world starts.
Rahm now has one more PGA Tour victory than fellow countryman and idol Seve Ballesteros.
“It was a tough week and a tough Sunday,” Rahm told CBS.
“By beating Seve, I know he hasn’t played full time on the PGA Tour and I know five of those wins are major, but still to reach that milestone of double-digit wins is pretty incredible.
“And to do it on a golf course with that heritage, that history and driven by the man himself, Tiger Woods, is a real honor.”
Rahm, who was last ranked number one in March 2022, held a three-shot lead going into the final round at Riviera Country Club but trailed Homa with six holes remaining.
However, two birdies on par 3 on the 14th and 16th brought the Spaniard forward and the pars of the last two holes secured the victory.
Scheffler loses his world number one spot just a week after winning the Phoenix Open to replace Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, who finished tied for 29th after a closing 71 on Sunday.
“Progress” for returning Woods
Woods finished his first tournament in seven months with a last round two over par 73 to finish on one under for the tournament.
“It’s progress, but I didn’t win,” said the 15-time major champion, who seriously injured his right leg and foot in a car accident two days after this tournament in 2021.
Those injuries are still hampering the 47-year-old, who said his comeback was “certainly a bit more difficult than I let on”.
Woods explained: “My team has been fantastic in recovering my body day to day and getting me ready to play every day.
“It’s the hardest part that I can’t fake at home. Even though I played four days at home, it’s not the same as adrenaline, it’s not the same thing as the system that goes up like that, the intensity, just the concentration that you have to play at this level.”
Woods said his goal at this point in his career – with a tough four-day course to go due to his ankle injury – is to play in all four major championships and “a few” other events.
The first major tournament of 2023 is the Masters in April at Augusta National – a tournament Woods has won five times.
