Rory McIlroy Surpasses Nick Faldo's World Ranking Record
The four-time Major winner becomes the third-most successful player in the history of the Official World Golf Ranking
The four-time Major winner becomes the third-most successful player in the history of the Official World Golf Ranking
Rory McIlroy Surpasses Nick Faldo's World Ranking Record
Rory McIlroy has surpassed Nick Faldo's total of 97 weeks as golf's World Number One.
The Northern Irishman is now guaranteed to have spent 98 weeks at the top, becoming the third-most successful player in the 34-year history of the Official World Golf Ranking.
The most successful player is Tiger Woods, who has spent 683 weeks as World No.1, with Greg Norman in second with 331.
Rory regained the top spot prior to the Genesis Open at Riviera earlier this month and could have lost it in Mexico had Jon Rahm won.
The Spaniard finished in a tie for third place and overtook Brooks Koepka in 2nd.
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McIlroy was 5th, which, incredibly, was his sixth consecutive top-five finish worldwide dating back to the Zozo Championship in October.
The four-time Major winner is currently in his eighth reign at the top of the world rankings.
He is spending his 98th week as World No.1 and is guaranteed to remain at the top next week too, taking the total number of weeks to 99.
Most weeks spent at the top of the Official World Golf Ranking:
As of Monday 24th February 2020
1 Tiger Woods - 683 weeks
2 Greg Norman - 331 weeks
3 Rory McIlroy - 99 weeks
4 Greg Norman - 97 weeks
5 Dustin Johnson - 91 weeks
6 Seve Ballesteros - 61 weeks
7 Luke Donald - 56 weeks
8 Jason Day - 51 weeks
9 Ian Woosnam - 50 weeks
10 Brooks Koepka - 47 weeks
McIlroy described his final day at the WGC-Mexico Championship as "frustrating".
"I don't feel like I got the best out of myself," he said.
"Yeah, obviously started the week well, and then, yeah, I feel like I just -- I hit some loose shots, and I didn't putt as well as I needed to over the last three days.
"And yeah, I just let a few shots get away."
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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews.