Rory McIlroy reclaims world No. 1 spot; Jason Day climbs rankings

ByJASON SOBEL
August 31, 2015, 9:53 AM

— -- The ongoing battle for golf's world No. 1 ranking between Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth could be interrupted by a third party this week.

As expected, McIlroy reclaimed the top spot when the point totals were recalculated Monday, following Spieth's two-week reign in that position.

But  Jason Day, who won the Barclays by a half-dozen strokes this past weekend, could mathematically overtake each of them for No. 1 this week.

All three players will be competing in the Deutsche Bank Championship, which begins Friday and concludes Monday. If Day wins and McIlroy and Spieth each finish lower than second place, Day would become the 19th player since the world ranking's inception in 1986 to ascend to that honor.

"I never thought I'd have the opportunity, mathematically, to get to No. 1," Day said after Sunday's win. "It's been a goal of mine. Right now, I just can't focus on that. ... The only way I can control it is through playing good golf."

Like Spieth, Day owns four PGA Tour victories this season. He's won three of his past four tournament starts, including the recent PGA Championship for his first career major title.

Coincidentally, it was Spieth who moved into the No. 1 spot following that major, as his second-place finish vaulted him past McIlroy for the first time. He lost that status after just two weeks, though, the byproduct of a missed cut at the Barclays.

"I've reached that peak already, and I know it's going to be close enough to where if I just get the job done next week, I'll be back in that ranking," Spieth said Friday. "That ranking, it's great once you reach it, but it's not something that I'm going to live or die on each week."