PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy drops to his lowest world ranking since 2014

Published Jun. 20, 2016 1:21 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

Like most players in the U.S. Open field, Rory McIlroy had a rough go of it at Oakmont. He missed the cut, the first time he's done so in a major in three years, posting a two-round score of 8-over par. His double bogey on the 36th hole of his U.S. Open appearance doomed him, and left him searching for answers.

It also pushed him outside of the top three in the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time in nearly two years.

The guy that took McIlroy's place is the same guy that won the U.S. Open on Sunday: Dustin Johnson. The last time McIlroy was outside the top three was in July 2014, just before he went on to win the Open Championship and the PGA Championship.

McIlroy, now No. 4 in the world, will need to turn his game around quickly if he hopes to move back in the top three with Jason Day and Jordan Spieth. The Open is quickly approaching as it's set to take place July 14-17 at Royal Troon. A win there would certainly move McIlroy back to his rightful place at No. 3, if he doesn't do so beforehand.

McIlroy falling out of the top three doesn't mean he's out of the "Big Three." Johnson has a few more majors to win before he unseats the Irishman in that group, but this win could open the floodgates for his long-awaited run in major championships.

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