Battle of the new ‘Big 3’ at Deutsche Bank

Jordan Spieth, winner of this year's U.S. Open golf tournament, throws out a ceremonial first pitch Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015, before a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, in Boston. The Yankees won 3-1. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Jordan Spieth, winner of this year's U.S. Open golf tournament, throws out a ceremonial first pitch Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015, before a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, in Boston. The Yankees won 3-1. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

By Associated Press September 3, 2015 5 min read

NORTON, Mass. (AP) – Based more on current form than a mathematical formula, Jordan Spieth believes Jason Day is the No. 1 player in golf.

Day is coming off a six-shot victory in the opening FedEx Cup playoff event. In his previous tournament, Day became the first player to finish 20-under par in a major when he won the PGA Championship. He has won three of his past four tournaments.

“He’s playing the best of anybody right now,” Spieth said Thursday at the Deutsche Bank Championship. “Until somebody dethrones him – hopefully me this week – he’s still that guy to beat right now.”

Day has dreamed of being No. 1 in the world since before he even joined the PGA Tour. But he’s interested in the ranking, not an opinion. That’s why he points to Rory McIlroy and Spieth, the two guys ahead of him in the two-year ranking system.

“I can’t say I’m the No. 1 player in the world right now,” Day said. “I just can’t do it. There’s two guys ahead of me that have played phenomenal golf over the last two years. I’ve played good golf, but I really played fantastic golf just in the last seven weeks.”