Jordan Spieth is your new world No. 1, but only for a week
A week ago, Jordan Spieth lost his world No. 1 ranking while Rory McIlroy was on the sidelines. This week, Spieth will earn it back.
Despite missing a second consecutive PGA Tour cut at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Saturday, Spieth will resume the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking on Tuesday because two things didn’t happen: Jason Day didn’t win the second leg of the playoffs and McIlroy, who was No. 1 this week, didn’t finish solo 10th or better at TPC Boston.
However, Spieth shouldn’t get too comfortable in the top spot for a third week out of the last four.
The FedEx Cup playoffs take a one-week break next week, putting a gap in the four-event series. Since both Spieth and McIlroy will be idle, neither will earn points. As the math goes, that benefits McIlroy, who will regain the top spot heading into the third leg at the BMW Championship, thanks to finishing better than 44th this week.
Spieth didn’t seem all that concerned about the distinction at this point and neither did McIlroy, who closed with 5-under 66 on Monday.
“It’ll be like that until one of us separates ourselves a little bit,” McIlroy said of himself, Spieth and Day. “Those two guys, the week off next week will do them good, and it will give me a chance to reassess where I’m at and work on things.”
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
