Ranking drops reflect Mickelson and McIlroy's struggles
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E-mail , March 10, 2021
Phil Mickelson has fallen outside the top 100 of the Official World Golf Ranking for the first time in 28 years.
In the new standings released Monday, Mickelson was ranked No 101, ending his record streak at 1,425 weeks.
Additionally, Rory McIlroy, who was ranked No 1 early in June 2020, fell out of the top 10, to be replaced by Bryson DeChambeau, the winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Florida on Sunday. McIlroy is outside the top 10 for the first time in three years.
Mickelson, 50, first appeared in the top 100 in August 1993 after winning The International.
In November 2019, "Lefty" fell outside the top 50 for the first time since November 1993.
Mickelson has played three PGA Tour events in 2021, missing the cut twice and finishing tied for 53rd at the Farmers Insurance Open. He played in one PGA Tour Champions event, finishing 20th at the Cologuard Classic where world-ranking points were not available.
Mickelson has won 44 PGA Tour events, including five major championships. He never reached No 1 in the world, but held onto the No 2 spot for 270 weeks, behind Tiger Woods each week.
In this week's rankings, Dustin Johnson remains No 1, followed in the top five by Spaniard Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas, Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele. DeChambeau jumped from 11th to sixth.
McIlroy finished eight shots behind DeChambeau on Sunday following a final-round 76.
"I need something, I need a spark－I need something and I just don't seem to have it," a frustrated McIlroy told Sky Sports last Sunday. "Some days it's good, some days it's not."
The Northern Irishman has not won since 2019 but will enter this week's Players Championship as the defending champion.
"Some stuff that I don't know how to describe, but just a little dejected or maybe looking to go in a different direction," McIlroy added.
Jordan Spieth, who reached No 1 in 2015 but has struggled to find that form in recent years, moved up to No 52－h(huán)is highest ranking since February 2020.
Spieth remains without a victory since his third major title at the 2017 British Open, but his return to form continued in Florida. Although the American is still not at his absolute best－especially from the tee－the former world No 1 delighted the quarter-capacity crowd with some stunning shots last week.
A hole-in-one at the par-3 second on Saturday was the highlight, but a holed bunker shot and two trademark long putts were reminders of what made Spieth one of the most exciting talents in golf.
"I made a step in the right direction today, regardless of the result," Spieth said after finishing tied-fourth, his third top-five effort in four events.
The 27-year-old had only finished in the top five once in his previous 60 tournaments, dating back to the 2018 Masters.
Men's Official World Golf Ranking for week beginning March 8, 2021:
1. Dustin Johnson (USA) 12.00 average points, 2. Jon Rahm (ESP)8.83, 3. Justin Thomas (USA) 8.18, 4.Collin Morikawa (USA) 8.01, 5. Xander Schauffele (USA) 7.21, 6. Bryson DeChambeau (USA) 7.12(+5), 7. Tyrrell Hatton (ENG) 6.47(-1), 8. Patrick Reed 6.35 (+1), 9. Patrick Cantlay (USA) 6.35 (-2), 10. Webb Simpson (USA) 6.34, 11. Rory McIlroy (NIR)6.31 (-3), 12. Brooks Koepka (USA)6.03, 13. Viktor Hovland (NOR) 5.54,14. Tony Finau (USA) 5.51, 15. Daniel Berger (USA) 4.78, 16. Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 4.52, 17. Im Sung-jae (KOR) 4.23, 18. Harris English (USA)4.18 (+1), 19. Paul Casey (ENG) 4.14(-1), 20. Matthew Wolff (USA) 4.08
