Tuesday 5 September 2017 23:18, UK
Rory McIlroy has fallen to his lowest world ranking for more than three years after missing the cut at last week’s Dell Technologies Championship.
The four-time major champion, without a win in 2017, holds his lowest position since July 2014 after dropping two places from fourth to sixth in the rankings.
Tournament winner Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm are the two players to leapfrog McIlroy, who has slumped to 51st in the FedExCup standings with two play-off events remaining.
McIlroy now needs a big performance at next week's BMW Championship to break into the top 30 and qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship, the event he won last year to claim the overall FedExCup title.
The Northern Irishman is only scheduled to make one further appearance in 2017 after the FedExCup play-offs, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, with McIlroy looking to avoid his first winless campaign since 2008.
McIlroy has missed several events through injury over the season and has played just 15 tournaments during in 2017, with the 28-year-old set to take a three-and-a-half month break from competitive action.
Dustin Johnson still holds a considerable lead at the top of the world rankings ahead of FedExCup leader Jordan Spieth, with Hideki Matsuyama occupying third place.
