Both John Rahm and Scottie Scheffler could take back the World No.1 position this week at the WM Phoenix Open.
Rory McIlroy has been the world’s best player according to the Official World Golf Ranking since he dethroned Scheffler after successfully defending the CJ Cup in September. The Northern Irishman also won the DP World Tour’s season-ending Race to Dubai in November and the Hero Dubai Desert Classic two weeks ago, with a dramatic one-shot victory over LIV Golf’s Patrick Reed.
Despite this scintillating run of form, McIlroy could still lose his spot at the top of the rankings this week according to Twitter’s OWGR expert Nosferatu @VC606.
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and Spaniard John Rahm, who sit second and third in the OWGR respectively, are the two players capable of overtaking him at TPC Scottsdale.
The Texan Scheffler would need to either win the event with McIlroy finishing below solo third or finish solo second and hope Rory places worse than solo 36th and Rahm doesn’t win the event.
🚨#OWGR No.1 watch at #WMPO:Scheffler could be No.1 with:- Win (Rory worse than solo 3rd)- Solo 2nd (Rory worse than solo 36th & Rahm doesn’t win)@JonRahmpga could be No.1 with:- Win (Rory worse than 3-way T2)- Solo 2nd (Rory worse than solo 47th & Scottie doesn’t win)February 7, 2023
For Rahm, the equation is similar. If he were to win the Phoenix Open and McIlroy finished worse than a three-way tie for second, the Spaniard would move to No.1 in the rankings.
Alternatively, he could finish second and hope Rory finished worse than solo 47th and with Scheffler not winning.
McIlroy is guaranteed to keep the top spot with a three-way tie for second or better.
Rahm has been in electric form in recent months winning in four of his last seven starts. That run includes victories in consecutive events to kick off the year at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii and the American Express.
Rahm has won four times in his last seven starts
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Rahm has spent a total of 43 weeks as the men’s World No.1, most recently between July 2021 and March 2022, a span of 36 consecutive weeks. He first reached the top spot in July 2020.
Scheffler has had a quieter few months but remains high in the rankings after a scintillating few months in early 2022, culminating in the American winning his first Major at Masters in April.
The 26-year-old won four events in just six starts between February and April 2022, and held the No.1…
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