Johnson turned a marathon finish into a Sunday stroll in the Genesis Open. He finished the third round in the morning with a 7-under 64 to build a five-shot lead, stretched it to nine shots at one point in the final round and coasted home to a 71 and a five-shot victory.

"It sounds good," Johnson said when asked about being the top player in the world. "I played really great all day. I couldn't have driven it any better. That was a big key."

Johnson became the 20th player to reach No. 1 since the world ranking began in 1986, ending Jason Day's 47-week stay at the top.

"He deserves it because he's been playing great golf," Day said.

Johnson won for the fourth time against some of golf's strongest fields dating to his U.S. Open victory last summer. All he cared about Sundaywas winning at Riviera, one of his favorite courses where he has had chances in four of the last five years.

Lahiri, who had a one-under 70 on first day, added a 67 on second and birdied the only hole he played in the third round before fading light ended play.

Lahiri is now six-under for 37 holes and will play 35. Lahiri is one of the 10 players at seven-under 137 and tied-7th.
The globe-trotting Lahiri, who has already made on two-week trip to Asia and will make another one-week visit to Delhi for Hero Indian Open, a title he won in 2015, has been handling his Transatlantic travels well.



Tied-19th at Dubai, he was tied-7th in Malaysian Championships and is now tied-7th midway through the Genesis Open at the Riviera.

Lahiri had five birdies and his only bogey came late in the evening on the par-5 17th, where he missed a shot par putt. He had birdies on 1st, 3rd, 6th,10th and 13th 

Then late in evening there was just enough time for one hole, the first, which he birdied for the third time this week to get to six-under.

Lahiri, who had a tough start as the weather meant start-stop-start on first day itself, said, “We had four delays and it took us an hour and a half for two and half holes.

“I have played in Asia, in Malaysia and Singapore, where you can spend days sitting out and play late evening. I think after the rains, the course was playing longer, maybe even 500 yards, but softer. The roughs were up but with crowds trampling on it, you could get a decent lie.”

Lahiri was still optimistic about his play.

“I am feeling good and positive. I got in a few birdies (in the second round) and have generally been feeling good about my game last couple of weeks. I did have some unforced errors but lot of bogeys in first 36 holes. And yes, I am ready for 35 holes.”

Apart from Lahiri, there is another player of Indian origin, Sahith Theegala, who is making his PGA Tour debut and with a start of 67-73 he is tied-43rd and had made the cut.

Lahiri met him briefly, and said, “He hasn’t played much amateur golf in India, so he’s been a bit under the radar. But obviously, he’s a really good prospect.”