Rory McIlroy WM Phoenix Open

Rory McIlroy's ninth stint as world number one lasted just four months after Masters champion Scottie Scheffler regained top spot in determined fashion by ...

Taylor birdied the 10th to draw level, but while he made birdie at the par-five 13th to get to 17-under, it was to remain a shot behind Scheffler, who rolled in a 21-footer for eagle moments earlier to go five-under for the day. He fist-pumped after holing a 15-footer for his three and looked on as Taylor missed from six feet to fall two strokes behind, then horseshoed out from 16 feet for birdie at the drive-able 17th as Scheffler pitched to five feet and brushed in the putt to take a three-shot lead to the 18th. Two stokes ahead of Rahm and two-time PGA Tour winner Taylor overnight, Scheffler picked up birdies at the second, third and ninth to lead by a shot from the Canadian and by three from the big Basque with nine holes to play.

Scottie Scheffler ended Rory McIlroy's stint at the top of the world rankings after completing a successful title defence with a two-stroke victory at the ...

Day 'trending' in stunning return to form; Rory toppled as No.1 in $5m statement.

Scheffler then aded another birdie at the 17th to make sure of the victory, finishing on 19-under to claim a two-shot victory. Taylor then pushed his own attempt at a par-save to all-but seal the result. Scottie Scheffler is the world No.1 again, defending his crown at the WM Phoenix Open to regain the top position from Rory McIlroy.

The American won after a solid final round with best of the Irish Seamus Power tied for 20th.

But it was Scheffler who stole the show as he succesfully defended his Phoenix Open title. It was his two preceding rounds of 71 that prevented him challenging towards the top of the leaderboard. It was even worse for Offaly's Shane Lowry as he failed to make the cut. The Northern-Irishman carded an impressive second round of 67 but could only manage back to back 70s in round 3 and 4. Seamus Power was the best placed of the Irish as he finished tied for 20th after a third round of 66 and fourth of 69. John Rahm finished third some 5 shots off the lead.

Scheffler successfully defended his title, returned to No. 1 in the world and banked $3.6 million from a $20 million purse in the 'designated event.'

Scottie Scheffler deposed Rory McIlroy as the world No 1 and won a mind-boggling $3.6 million (about £2.9 million) after defending his WM Phoenix Open title ...

As fans flocked to the Super Bowl in another part of the city, Scheffler, 26, emerged as the chief thanks largely to an eagle on the 13th. His round of 65 took him to 19 under par and secured victory in one of the PGA Tour’s “elevated” events by two strokes. Scottie Scheffler deposed Rory McIlroy as the world No 1 and won a mind-boggling $3.6 million (about £2.9 million) after defending his WM Phoenix Open title in Arizona on Sunday.

Scottie Scheffler overtakes Rory McIlroy at the top of the World Golf Rankings with victory at the WM Phoenix Open.

[Justin Thomas](/people/justin-thomas/) and [Jason Day](/people/jason-day/) completed the top five, with [Jordan Spieth](/people/jordan-spieth/) and [Tyrrell Hatton](/people/tyrrell-hatton/) notable names in the group who finished in sixth spot. [Rory McIlroy](/people/rory-mcilroy/) in October, and the early-season form of [Jon Rahm](/people/jon-rahm/) appeared to make it more likely that the Spaniard would eventually move past McIlroy over the coming weeks. [Scottie Scheffler](/people/scottie-scheffler/) has returned to the top of the World Golf Rankings by winning the WM Phoenix Open.