Rory McIlroy didn't even play this week at The Barclays. Jordan Spieth missed the cut after shooting 74-73. Regardless, McIlroy assumed the No. 1 spot on Monday and will remain there when the two tee it up at the Deutsche Bank Championship next week.
The OWGR is calculated based on a two-year rolling average. Tournaments played 24 months ago come off the books and your most recent results weigh most heavily. The tenths of points that currently separate the two mean they could go blow for blow for the No. 1 spot for a long time.
Spieth entered this week with 12.352 points. McIlroy with 12.300. Jason Day was third with just over nine points. The race is even closer now. McIlroy has 12.36. Spieth has 12.22. Day has 10.99.
The bigger point is that we have three clear-cut best golfers in the world in McIlroy, Day and Spieth. It would be surprising (though not shocking) to see a different name than one of theirs in that No. 1 spot over the next few years.
