Rory McIlroy reclaims world No. 1 ranking for ninth time, a decade after his debut in the top spot

There is a new golfer no. 1 in the world who doubles as a former world number 1 golfer. With his victory at the 2022 CJ Cup on Sunday afternoon, Rory McIlroy returned to the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time since July 2020 and the ninth time in his career.

Beating Kurt Kitayama and KH Lee, it was McIlroy who overtook Scottie Scheffler, ending the 2022 Masters champion’s 30-week run at No.1.

Even more remarkable than McIlroy regaining the No. 1 spot is that he has sustained a level of greatness over the past decade. This marks McIlroy’s ninth consecutive No. 1 ranking in just over 10 years since his debut in March 2012, shortly after turning pro.

A lot has happened over the past decade, but McIlroy hasn’t fallen into the world’s top 15 in that time. He is one of only three golfers to have a 10-year gap between their first appearance as world No. 1 and their most recent. The other two are Tiger Woods (17) and Greg Norman (11.5). No one else more than 3.5 years between appearances.

“I guess that’s where I’m saying the exciting thing is you get to No. 1 and you feel great right now,” McIlroy said earlier this week. “The bad thing is almost you [have] to… maybe work harder to stay there. I think when you strive for something, it’s not that it’s easier to get there, but once you get there, it’s great. But I think the hard work is actually staying there.

“I think if I go back to No. 1 this week, it’s like going back for the ninth time. She kind of illustrates that you can have runs and stay there, but I think the cool part is the journey and the journey that ends up. back there. It’s kind of like a heavyweight boxer losing a world title and it’s a journey to get that title back. I feel like that’s the cool part of it and that’s the journey I’ve been on over the last 12 months.”

McIlroy has indeed played some of the best golf of his career over the past year. In his last 15 world starts, he has 12 top 10s, 10 top fives, three wins and just one missed cut. Since the start of 2022, he has been by far the best player statistically in the world, with over 2.7 strokes gained per round. The next closest comer this week in the CJ Cup was Scheffler (2.5).

In a year in which McIlroy disappointingly failed to win a major championship — although he finished in the top 10 in all four — it’s a bit of a reprieve that he essentially accomplished everything else: a victory in FedEx Cup, three PGA Tour wins, nearly $30 million in earnings along the way (including FedEx Cup bonus money) and a return trip to the top of the OWGR standings. It was an outstanding show.

Here’s a look at the nine times McIlroy was the No. 1 player in the world.