As the curtain closes on another year, we give you a reminder of some of the talking points from the world of golf. In this post, we review the four players that topped the world rankings.
2018 sequence at the top of the world:
Dustin Johnson
The 2016 US Open champion started the year in pole position and only surrendered his ranking on 13 May.
Justin Thomas
It was a rather muted rise to the top for Thomas after a share of 11th place at The Players was enough to dethrone DJ, who had spent 64 weeks as the world’s best player. He lasted just four weeks before Johnson returned.
Dustin Johnson
A six-shot win at the FedEx St Jude Classic – which finished with a hole-out eagle – was enough to help the big-hitting American back to his number one spot.
Justin Rose
One of the most consistent players over the past two years, it was two second-place finishes that lifted him past DJ at the summit. He became the fourth Englishman after Sir Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald to top the rankings.
Dustin Johnson
A final-round 67, which saw him finish third at the Tour Championship was enough to eclipse Rose, the FedExCup winner, at the top.
Brooks Koepka
Koepka’s win of the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges saw him move past his Ryder Cup teammate at the top.
Justin Rose
The Englishman enjoyed the added benefit of a rankings achievement after successfully defending his Turkish Airlines Open title.
Brooks Koepka
The two-time US Open champion and winner of the 2018 PGA Championship moved back on top, despite not teeing it up in November. The complicated rankings formula worked in Koepka’s favour, with Rose dropping down after opting against playing the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City.
Justin Rose
Once again an inactive player returned to the top of the rankings as the see-saw continued late into the year.
Brooks Koepka
For the third time in 2018, Koepka moved to the top of the rankings.
