Dustin Johnson Moves To World No. 1 Ranking Spot With Five-Shot Win At Genesis Open

Dustin Johnson cruised to the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking with his five-shot victory at the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California, on Sunday.

Dustin Johnson Becomes World golf No. 1 After Genesis Open Win

The 32-year-old American was previously ranked third in the world, and supplants Australian Jason Day, who finished tied for 64th.

“I believe in myself. I think I’m a great player,” said the ecstatic Johnson after his major triumph.

Johnson, a 13-time PGA Tour winner, began the final round with a five-shot lead after birdies at the first two holes en route to a closing 71.

Despite two late bogeys, Johnson finished at 17-under-par 267, with Thomas Pieters (63) of Belgium and American Scott Brown (67) a distant second on 12-under in the event formerly named the Los Angeles Open.

Former world number one Jordan Spieth, who won last week at Pebble Beach, tied for 22nd, 11 strokes off the pace.

Johnson, 32, earned $1.26 million for his 13th Tour title. He has won at least once each year since joining the Tour in 2008, the longest active streak.

“It was a long day but played really great all day,” Johnson said after a marathon 36-hole Sunday which made up for Friday’s near washout when the area was hit by a strong winter storm.

“To finally get a win (at Riviera) feels good because I’ve finished second here a couple of times, lost in a playoff, felt I should have won a couple of other times.”

Johnson put the tournament out of reach when he birdied the final three holes of the third round, and then added two more to open the last round.

The defending U.S. Open champion joins Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods in winning every year for at least ten years after starting on the tour.

Palmer (1955-71) and Nicklaus (1962-78) both won their first 17 seasons, while Woods (1996-2009) recorded 14 straight seasons with a win.

Johnson is also expecting his second child with fiancee Paulina Gretzky, a model who is the daughter of NHL legend Wayne Kretzky.

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – FEBRUARY 19: Dustin Johnson plays his shot on the second hole during the final round at the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club on February 19, 2017 in Pacific Palisades, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena