>>Spieth Gaining On McIlroy For World No. 1

With Jordan Spieth's playoff victory at the John Deere Classic on Sunday, he closed the gap even more on Rory McIlroy's lead for the world's No. 1 spot.

Spieth, the Masters and U.S. Open champion, improved by 0.45 average points up to 11.29, while McIlroy dropped 0.18 average points to 12.51. The duo remains one and two in the world. McIlroy will not be able to defend his title at next weeks Open Championship due to an ankle injury.

Bubba Watson and Dustin Johnson stayed put and are Nos. 3 and 4 for another week.

Rickie Fowler rallied to win the Scottish Open Sunday and he vaulted up to No. 5. Due to Fowler's rise, Jim Furyk, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose and Jason Day all fell one and are six through nine, respectively.

Sergio Garcia, Adam Scott, Jimmy Walker, J.B. Holmes and Hideki Matsuyama remained the same from 10, while Scottish Open runner-up Matt Kuchar improved two to 15.

Patrick Reed and Louis Oosthuizen both fell one to 16 and 17. Chris Kirk and Martin Kaymer swapped spots, with Kirk up to 18. Billy Horschel rounded out the top-20 once again.

>>Spieth, Dustin Johnson Paired Together At British Open

Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson are paired together alongside Hideki Matsuyama for the first two rounds of the 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews following an exciting finish at the U.S. Open in June.

Johnson three-putted for par on the 72nd hole at Chambers Bay to hand the title to Spieth, who is coming off a playoff win at the John Deere Classic this past weekend and is trying to become the first player to win the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open in the same season since Ben Hogan in 1953.

The trio will tee off on Thursday at 4:33 a.m. ET, then will go off Friday at 9:34 a.m.

Three-time champion Tiger Woods is back in action for the second time since missing the cut at Chambers Bay. Seeking that elusive 15th major title and first since the 2008 U.S. Open, Woods will be paired with 2010 champion Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Day, who is playing for the first time since dealing with a bout of vertigo at the U.S. Open.

Woods, Oosthuizen and Day will be two groups behind the pairing of Spieth, Johnson and Matsuyama and will tee off at 4:55 a.m. Thursday before going off at 9:56 a.m. Friday. Oosthuizen won by seven strokes the last time the championship was held at St. Andrews in 2010. Woods won at St. Andrews in 2005 and 2000.

Going off later in the day Thursday will be 2013 champion Phil Mickelson, who will be joined by Matt Kuchar and Henrik Stenson. That pairing tees off at 9:34 a.m. Thursday and 4:33 a.m. Friday.

Following that pairing will be Players champion and last week's Scottish Open winner Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose and three-time champion Nick Faldo at 9:34 a.m. Thursday. Fowler is looking for his first major title as he hopes to become the second player next to Mickelson in 2013 to follow a Scottish Open victory with a British Open title.

Another intriguing pairing going off at 3:33 a.m. Thursday will include five- time champion Tom Watson and two-time winner Ernie Els. They will be joined by Brandt Snedeker.

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel will be grouped with Ian Poulter and tee off at 4:00 a.m. Thursday. Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Patrick Reed will follow them at 4:11 a.m.

Adam Scott, Martin Kaymer and Jimmy Walker make up another star-studded group and will start their week at 9:12 a.m. Thursday.

John Daly, the 1995 champion at St. Andrews, is paired with Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jason Dufner. They start at 7:50 a.m. Thursday.