Jordan Spieth's first spell atop the world golf rankings proved short as the Masters and US Open champion missed the cut at the Barclays on Friday to hand the top spot back to Rory McIlroy.

Spieth, 22, was playing his first tournament since taking the number one ranking with a runner-up finish to Jason Day at the PGA Championship on August 16.

After a four-over-par first round of 74, Spieth carded a two-over 72 on Friday, his six-over total of 146 putting him four strokes outside the projected cut line of two-over when he walked off the course.

His early exit means that Northern Ireland's McIlroy will reclaim the summit even though he opted to skip the first of four events in the US PGA Tour's season-ending FedEx Cup playoffs.
Source: AFP