The Official World Golf Ranking, as of this week at least, says Rory McIlroy is the No. 1 golfer in the world.
For the two weeks prior, Jordan Spieth was, and has been touted as McIlroy's successor throughout the summer.
After winning The Barclays by six shots for his third win in four starts, Jason Day, ranked third in the OWGR, has been crowned the up-to-the-minute best player on the planet.
So who does each of them think is the best golfer right now? Well, on Thursday at the Deutsche Bank Championship, we got three different answers -- and there are only three choices.
McIlroy said, "You'd have to say Jordan."
Then Spieth said, "I believe that Jason is No. 1 right now."
And Day, only adding to the confusion, went with, "Rory, isn't that right? In the world ranking, Rory right now."
Of course, who the best player is right now doesn't much matter except for bonus clauses and social media bragging rights. Golf is a long game -- literally, these days, and figuratively. Getting a clear picture of talent takes decades. Figuring out who won takes much longer than a tournament or a year. It's more like a decade.
While it doesn't much matter who is the best golfer right now, being in the conversation is an indication of who cold ultimately be No. 1 in the annals of history.
For the Excel fans, however, the algorithmically determined No. 1 ranking hangs in the balance this week. McIlroy, Spieth and Day all have a conceivable chance of walking away from TPC Boston with the spot in the world ranking.
