Rory McIlroy not going away in World No 1 tussle on PGA Tour

Golf fans are being treated to a compelling fight for the World No 1 spot on the PGA Tour in which Rory McIlroy finds himself behind on points.

The Northern Irishman was dethroned from the top spot at the WM Phoenix Open as Scottie Scheffler dug deep to win his fifth Tour title since last February.

There are numerous permutations in which McIlroy, Scheffler and Jon Rahm can find themselves as World No 1 come Sunday afternoon which makes for an exciting week at the 2023 Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles.

McIlroy has spent 122 weeks on top of the rankings in his career – a total only bettered by Tiger Woods, Greg Norman and Dustin Johnson – and he has the chance to take back the spot at Riviera Country Club.

While the likes of Johnson, Max Homa and Adam Scott have thrived at the Genesis Invitational in recent years, this is an event that’s alluded McIlroy’s trophy cabinet in six appearances.

“Of course, I care about it. I think it’s a really cool thing to be ranked No 1 in whatever you do,” he said. “But I think it just goes to show the level of depth and the level of talent that’s out here.

“I literally have one average week, it wasn’t even a bad week, just an average week, and there’s always someone waiting in the wings to overtake you or to come and try to take that mantle from you.

“I think it’s a great thing for the game, the fact that there’s always someone there waiting to take the title away from you.

“I’ve got a chance to get it back this week. You know, hopefully, it’s a sort of hot potato thing where me, Scottie and Jon sort of pass it around a little bit because it means we’re all playing great golf.”

Despite showing the best recent form of the leading Tour trio, Rahm has been left frustrated in his pursuit of the World No 1 spot which he lost to Scheffler in March 2022.

The Spaniard has previously expressed his annoyance at the Official World Golf Ranking points system, which has only allowed him to rise from sixth to third despite winning four times in his last eight starts.

Two of these wins came at the acciona Open de Espana and the DP World Tour Championship, while the most recent pair of trophies came on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy returned to action at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January to beat Patrick Reed in a memorable battle. This also helped to assert his authority as World No 1 before being replaced.

The four-time major champion has juggled on-course and off-course responsibilities in recent months and he hopes for his 24th Tour title at the third designated event of 2023, a concept which he helped to devise in his newfound leadership role on the circuit.

“I don’t see Scottie or Rahmbo going away, and I don’t certainly don’t plan to either,” he added. “Obviously you’ve got so many other guys in there that would have a chance to sort of be up around that conversation as well.

“I just think with the way the game is right now and sort of how we play, it’s becoming harder and harder to separate yourself from the field.

“So it seems like it’s been that way for the last basically since Tiger was in his heyday that that No. 1 spot sort of been’s passed around a bit between us all.”

McIlroy, Scheffler and Rahm have certainly separated themselves as the best players in the world, but the strength of the field this week suggests any player could taste victory at the weekend.

Will Rory McIlroy become World No 1 again at the Genesis Invitational? Tweet me and let me know!

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Matt Chivers

Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.