SI World Golf Rankings: Rory McIlroy Is Ready for the British Open

Fresh off his win at the Scottish Open, Rory McIlroy soars to his highest ranking of the season in the Sports Illustrated World Golf Rankings. See who else made a big move this week.

Jeff Ritter | Jul 17, 2023

SI World Golf Rankings: Rory McIlroy Is Ready for the British Open /

Last month at the U.S. Open, Rory McIlroy endured another oh-so-close major-championship moment. But by winning the Scottish Open on Sunday with two birdies to close it out, McIlroy once again showed he’s ready to end his major drought. It could happen this week at Hoylake.

By beating a strong field at the Scottish, McIlroy moved up a spot in the latest SI World Golf Rankings to No. 2, his highest ranking of the season.

And McIlroy is not alone among movers in this week’s Sports Illustrated World Golf Rankings, our proprietary, data-driven list of the top men’s golfers in the world right now, which looks at performances across all pro tours, including LIV Golf. (Here’s how we do our calculations.)

It all sets up for what should be a thrilling week at Hoylake. Here are some notable risers and fallers.

3 Risers in This Week's SI World Golf Rankings

Rory McIlroy - Up 1 Spot

Rory McIlroy Sports Illstrated World Golf Rankings

This Week: 2

Last Week: 3

Skinny: McIlroy isn’t the largest riser in terms of places gained, but his move back to No. 2 is notable in that he jumped Jon Rahm. At 7-1, Rory is the betting favorite this week in the SI Sportsbook.

Byeong Hun An - Up 57 Spots

This Week: 74

Last Week: 131

Skinny: Monster move this week after tying for third behind McIlroy and Robert MacIntyre in Scotland.

Robert MacIntyre - Up 126 Spots

Champion, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and runner-up, Robert MacIntyre of Scotland embrace during Day Four of the Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on July 16, 2023 in United Kingdom. — Andrew Redington/Getty Images

This Week: 96

Last Week: 222

Skinny: Did everything but win in Scotland, as McIlroy’s birdie-birdie finish clipped him by a shot.

3 Fallers in This Week’s SIWGR

Matt Fitzpatrick - Down 6 Spots

Matt Fitzpatrick hits a bunker shot in the first round of the 2023 U.S. Open. — Lindsey Wasson/AP

This Week: 19

Last Week: 13

Skinny: A surprising MC at the Scottish Open. Lost last year’s T6 at the Scottish from his calculation, as the SIWGR uses the most recent 12 months of player results.

Cameron Young - Down 12 Spots

Cameron Young hits a drive at the 2023 U.S. Open. — Marcio J. Sanchez/AP

This Week: 31

Last Week: 19

Skinny: DNP at the Scottish with an eye on this week’s British. Was runner-up at St. Andrews last year.

Abraham Ancer - Down 18 Spots

Abraham Ancer is pictured on the 18th hole in the final round of the 2023 Saudi International. — Eoin Clarke/Golffile

This Week: 100

Last Week: 82

Skinny: DNP at the Scottish as he’s a member of LIV Golf, so no points earned this week.

Published Jul 17, 2023

JEFF RITTER

Jeff Ritter is the managing director of SI Golf. He has more than 20 years of sports media experience, and previously was the general manager at the Morning Read, where he led that business's growth and joined SI as part of an acquisition in 2022. Earlier in his career he spent more than a decade at SI and Golf Magazine, and his journalism awards include a MIN Magazine Award and an Edward R. Murrow Award for sports reporting. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan and a master's from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.