OWGR: Ranking Every World No. 1 in History

4. Rory McIlroy

Time at the top: 95 weeks

Winning a major is the greatest achievement in golf, and Rory (four) has more than Day and Spieth combined (three), giving him the nod in the “young gun” category. Ever since he was a teen, McIlroy has shown he has the moxie of a No. 1 player. His current absence from the OWGR summit is not so much a discredit to him as it is a reflection of the strength of today’s top players.

McIlroy has already spent 95 weeks at No. 1, fourth-most of anyone to get there. At the rate he’s going, that number is sure to go up. The knock on Rory has been his supposed disinterest in non-majors, which can hamper one’s position in a ranking that values excellence on a weekly basis. With that said, the sky’s the limit for McIlroy, who has that rare ability to run away with tournaments.

Next: Seve Ballesteros