October 24, (THEWILL) – In order to win the CJ Cup in South Carolina on Sunday, Rory McIlroy shot a final round score of 67, a result that effectively means McIlroy will move up to the top spot on the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR)
The only other FedExCup champion to win in his first game the following season is Tiger Woods. Having previously won back-to-back Canadian Opens, McIlroy also successfully defended a tournament championship for the second time in his professional career.
McIlroy now holds the 28th-best overall record on the PGA Tour with 23 victories, one behind Gary Player and Dustin Johnson. It has been 119 weeks since McIlroy last occupied the top spot, in July 2020. The top OWGR position has changed hands several times over that time, from Jon Rahm to Justin Thomas to Johnson to Rahm again, to Scottie Scheffler, who has held the position since March 2022.
At age 33, McIlroy is back there now for the ninth time in his career and it is a testament to both his talent of a generation and his consistent ability to win. But of course, that desired big win is still lacking. Despite being ranked No. 1 in the world, McIlroy’s career is now predominantly judged on his major record.
Although his 2022 season was exceptional, his second-place performance at Augusta and the close call at St. Andrews may still be what many remember him for most. The goal for 2023 will be to break a run of 30 majors without a victory, which dates back to the 2014 PGA Championship.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
