Memphis (United States) (AFP)

American Justin Thomas made a double blow on Sunday in Memphis, winning the WGC St. Jude Invitational tournament at the expense of defending champion Brooks Koepka, which allows him to become, two years later, world number one in golf.

Thomas has already occupied this throne for four weeks, between May 13 and June 9, 2018. He dislodges the Spaniard Jon Rahm, who will have remained only two weeks at the top of this ranking long occupied by the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy.

"If I become world number one again, I hope it will be for a longer period," he joked before the tournament, believing that he is today "a better player, more complete than at the time.

At 27, he became the third youngest player in the past 60 years to have 13 victories on the North American PGA Tour, behind two legends: Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.

Fifth after 54 holes, four strokes behind Brendon Todd, the leader on Saturday, Justin Thomas was able to reverse the trend this Sunday, making a card of 65 (-5) to finish with a total of -13 and thus succeed Brooks. Koepka, who finished with three strokes, sharing 2nd place with Daniel Berger, Phil Mickelson and Englishman Tom Lewis.

“This victory means a lot, especially the way I won it. In the past I had trouble coming from behind. At one point I wondered how far behind I was and how many players ahead of me, ”said the Louisville, Ky. native.

Concentrated on his course, he did not attend the spectacular tumble of Brendon Todd, author of a 75 (+5) card to finish in fifteenth place (-7) after having been in charge for two consecutive days.

- Koepka: a splash and patatras -

So much so that for a long time Thomas' most dangerous rival was Koepka, who thought he could keep his title on Sunday, when he took the lead briefly on the 13th hole.

Justin Thomas regained the advantage on the 16th hole, thanks to a birdie, not to let it go, probably heaving a sigh of relief when he saw his competitor crack in the 18th, by sending the ball into the water, synonymous with double bogey, then in the bunker on the next move.

A fishtail end certainly frustrating for the one who will try to win, as of next Thursday in San Francisco, a third consecutive victory in the PGA Championship, the first Grand Slam lifting of the season, the calendar of which has been upset by the coronavirus.

Thomas, winner of this Major in 2017, the only one of his career, put himself in the best possible conditions to also win on TPC Harding Park, and thus fully assume his new status as world number one.

What Jon Rahm has absolutely not achieved. Two weeks after his Memorial victory, he never really managed to tame the course in Memphis, except Sunday, his best day (66), to fail in 57th place (+1), while Rory McIlroy, also in difficulty since the resumption of the season, he ranked 47th (-1).

The two best European golfers of the moment will have to show a different face in San Francisco, where veteran Phil Mickelson, still very well placed (2nd) this weekend without making too much noise, hopes to play the spoilsport, and where all All eyes will be on Tiger Woods, who has been scarce since the cricuit resumed in June.

© 2020 AFP