Mcilroy back at world No 1 for first time since 2015

Rory Mcilroy has returned to the top of the world rankings for the first time since September 2015.

Mcilroy and Brooks Koepka did not contest last week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am, but Mcilroy has moved above the American due to the vagaries of the two-year rolling ranking system.

However, both are in action at this week’s Genesis Invitational, where Webb Simpson is set to be the only member of the world’s top ten not competing in a star-studded field at Riviera in Los Angeles.

This will be Mcilroy’s 96th week in total as world No 1, one behind the record for a European player held by Sir Nick Faldo, although his lead over fellow four-time major winner Koepka is only 0.03 points.

Spain’s Jon Rahm is also within touching distance of top spot after two wins, two runners-up finishes and two other top-tens in his last six events.

Canadian Nick Taylor is up to 101st in the rankings after climbing 128 spots on the back of his weekend win in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am. Taylor held off Phil Mickelson, who was bidding for a record sixth success in the event in California, to land a second PGA Tour triumph, securing a Masters debut in the process. ● Balmore’s James Wilson, winner of the 2018 Welsh Amateur Stroke Play Championship, is off to a flying start in his bid to land the South African equivalent in Johannesburg.

Part of a Scottish Golf contingent, he carded an eagle and seven birdies to set the pace with an eight-under-par 64 on the Firethorn Course at Randpark Golf Club. Wilson leads by a shot from England’s Haider Hussain, with Castle Park’s Connor Wilson on 67.