Jordan Spieth described his runner-up finish at the PGA Championship as the "best loss" he has ever had.
The 22-year-old took over as the world's top-ranked golfer after finishing three shots behind an emotional Jason Day at Whistling Straits on Sunday.
MORE: PGA winners | Multiple winners | PGA's best images
Spieth said a lifelong goal had been achieved and added that Day simply did not give him enough chances to pounce.
"It's by far the best consolation, by far the best loss I think I've ever had," he said. "I played solid golf. I played 11 under on the weekend off of the tough draw the first two days and still had a chance to really win.
Spieth, who shot a 4-under 68 in the final round, said Day deserved his victory as the 27-year-old Australian made the most of his chances.
"He was sitting there swinging as hard as he could off the tee, and every single drive was right down the middle of the fairway," Spieth said. "... The fact that I would have had to shoot seven or eight under to win, if you told me that at the beginning of the week, I'd have told you I missed the cut. ... My goal when the day started was I said, 'Michael (caddie Michael Greller), if we get three (under), we might be in a playoff and four to win.' And I shot four.
"A lot of positives come out of today. To be number one in the world as a team is fantastic. Certainly it was a lifelong goal of mine, and that was accomplished today."