Dustin Johnson regained his number one world ranking after his impressive win at the FedEx St Jude Classic but five players could replace him with a US Open win.
Justin Thomas
The man DJ replaced on Monday could shoot straight back to the top with a win. Thomas is the reigning PGA Championship winner and was T9 last year after fading from contention. JT started the final round just one back, thanks to a record-setting 63 in round three, but slumped home with a 75.
Justin Rose
The world number three has been rampant for almost a year now, after wins on both the European Tour and PGA Tour. His win at the Fort Worth Invitational moved him into the race for the top spot but he has been poor since winning this event in 2013, missing the weekend two years in a row.
Jordan Spieth
The 2015 champion, and reigning Open champion, has not won this year but could still topple Johnson with a win at Shinnecock Hills. Two mid-30s finishes in a row make him somewhat of an outsider this week.
Jon Rahm
The only player without a Major on the list of possible candidates to replace Johnson on top of the world rankings. The Open de Espana winner hasn’t won in the US since edging Andrew Landry in a playoff in January’s CareerBuilder Challenge.
Rory McIlroy
Looking to add to his 95 weeks spent as a world number one, McIlroy enters the week with very indifferent form but does have the 2018 Arnold Palmer Invitational title safely tucked away. Like Spieth, he’s had two missed cuts in recent times but got the job done in 2011, so he’ll be quietly confident of a good showing in New York.
