'US Open Champ' Ram "Instantly World No.1"... Johnson No.2

Spain's First US Open Champion Leads to Regain 'Number 1' Spot, Thomas 3rd, Morikawa 4th

Yon Rahm is taking a commemorative photo with his wife Kelly and son Kepa right after winning the 121st US Open. San Diego, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] 'Rambo' Jon Rahm (Spain) has returned to world No. 1.

In the weekly official golf world rankings announced on the afternoon of the 21st (Korean time), he scored 9.99 points and jumped from 3rd place last week to 1st place in one go. He accumulated points by winning the 121st US Open (total prize money $12.5 million), which ended that morning at the Torrey Pines Golf Course South Course (par 71, 7,652 yards) in San Diego, California, USA. It was his first win of the 2021 season and his 6th PGA Tour victory overall, coming 10 months after the BMW Championship in August last year.

This was Rahm's first major victory, and especially meaningful as he became the 'first Spanish national US Open champion.' The dramatic comeback was highlighted by consecutive birdies on the final 17th and 18th holes. Challenging downhill putts of 7.6 meters on the 17th hole (par 4) and 5.5 meters on the 18th hole (par 5) were holed. He became the fourth player in the history of this tournament to win with back-to-back birdies on the last two holes, following Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Ben Hogan.

Rahm's special connection with Torrey Pines also made news. He turned professional in 2016 and immediately won his first title at the Farmers Open in January 2017, where he proposed to his now-wife Kelly. After finishing runner-up last year, this year he won on Father's Day in the US with his son Kepa, born in April, doubling his joy. "My parents came from Spain to the US to see their grandson, so three generations gathered in one place," he added, "Torrey Pines is a special place in many ways."

Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas dropped to 2nd and 3rd place respectively, with Collin Morikawa in 4th and Xander Schauffele in 5th. 'The Hulk' Bryson DeChambeau (all from the US) slipped one spot to 6th. Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa), who competed fiercely with Rahm until the end, rose six places from 18th to 12th as consolation. Im Sung-jae (23) ranked 26th, Kim Si-woo (26) 49th, and Lee Kyoung-hoon (30, all from CJ Logistics) secured spots in the 'Top 100' at 66th place.