Magnificent Jon Rahm lays down strong marker for forthcoming Major combat

Jon Rahm suffered a two-shot penalty after the final round of the Memorial Tournament, but it did not stop the Spaniard winning the event and becoming world number one for the first time.

Rahm, 22-1 for the Memorial ante-post, took a four-shot lead into the final day and dominated throughout, a flawless two-under-par front-nine in tough conditions leaving the rest of the field chasing his shadow.

A chip-in for an apparent birdie at the par-three 16th hole was later changed to a bogey four after Tour officials studied video footage that showed Rahm had slightly moved his ball on address, but that merely meant he was victorious by a margin of three shots, instead of five.

The new world rankings top-five order is Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and Webb Simpson. Brooks Koepka, who shared 62nd place in the Memorial, is in sixth spot and dropping far away from summit where he was perched for so long.

Rahm is as short as 10-1 for the US PGA Championship, which starts next month, and the last few drops of 14-1 look set to be snapped up after his Muirfield Village masterclass. Bet365 have shunted Johnson out to 18-1 after he carded a pair of 80s to miss the Memorial cut by 13 shots.

This week the PGA Tour moves to Minnesota for the 3M Open, where Matthew Wolff will defend his title. Johnson and Koepka are also in the field.

The European Tour steps up a gear with the British Masters, hosted by Lee Westwood, who will have popular compatriots Eddie Pepperell and Andrew Johnston alongside him in the line-up at Close House, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

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