Day takes another step toward top of golf world

EDISON, New Jersey — Jason Day, so poor as a kid that he shopped at a store where he stuffed as much used clothing as he could into a bag for $5, is trying not to think about the potential of a $10-million bonus for winning the FedEx Cup. That’s still four weeks away.

Day, so cocksure as a teenager that he talked about being No. 1 even before he was a PGA Tour rookie, is trying to keep his mind off the possibility that he could rise above Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth and claim the top spot in the world ranking. That could be as little as one week away.

His six-shot victory Sunday in The Barclays opened a whole world of possibilities.

“I can only control what I can control,” Day said.

And he has a great grip on that at the moment.

Fresh off his first major title at the PGA Championship, Day used that frightening blend of power and putting to bury another world-class field at The Barclays. He finished off a sensational weekend at Plainfield Country Club with an 8-under 62, the lowest closing round by a winner this year on the PGA Tour.

Henrik Stenson got within two shots after back-to-back birdies until he stalled with four holes to play, and Day made a pair of long putts across the green for birdies to stretch the lead and give him a peaceful walk up the 18th hole.

Relentless to the end, he hit driver to the edge of the green and made birdie to complete a 63-62 weekend.

McIlroy, who didn’t play in the opening FedEx Cup playoff event so he could give his ankle an extra week of rest, moved back to No. 1 when Spieth missed the cut at The Barclays. That figured to be a two-man battle for the next month, except that now it’s a three-man race.