Collin Morikawa among four players who could reach world No. 1 this week

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Four players have a chance to reach No. 1 in the world ranking after THE PLAYERS Championship. All four are looking to ascend to the top spot for the first time in their careers.

Collin Morikawa, Viktor Hovland, reigning FedExCup champion Patrick Cantlay and current FedExCup leader Scottie Scheffler all could supplant Jon Rahm from the top spot in the world ranking with their play this week. They are Nos. 2-5 in the world ranking, respectively.

Morikawa and Hovland could each become the second-fastest player to reach No. 1 in the world, and become the first world No. 1 born after Tiger Woods turned pro.

Woods, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, needed just 21 starts as a pro to reach No. 1. Spieth was second-fastest, reaching No. 1 in 77 starts.

THE PLAYERS is Morikawa’s 66th start as a pro. Hovland is making his 69th start pro start this week..

Scheffler, who leads the FedExCup after winning two of his past three starts, would need another win at THE PLAYERS to reach No. 1. The 25-year-old won last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard to take over the top spot in the FedExCup. He earned his first PGA TOUR title earlier this year at the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

Cantlay won four times last season en route to claiming the FedExCup. He can reach No. 1 with a win or runner-up this week.

Hovland would become the first Norwegian to reach World No. 1. He needs either a win or runner-up this week to reach the top spot. He’s won three times worldwide since November and is coming off top-four finishes in each of his last two starts, including a runner-up to Scheffler last week at Bay Hill.

Hovland has a chance to become just the fourth player to reach World No. 1 before turning 25, joining Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth. The Official World Golf Ranking was founded in 1986.

Morikawa had his first chance to become world No. 1 at the Hero World Challenge. Needing a win, he took a five-shot lead into the final round but shot a final-round 76 to finish fifth. He could become No. 1 with a top-four finish this week.

Here are the scenarios for Morikawa, Hovland, Cantlay and Scheffler need to reach No. 1:

COLLIN MORIKAWA
- Morikawa becomes No. 1 with a win.
- Morikawa finishes second alone, Rahm finishes worse than T3 with one other player and neither Hovland nor Cantlay win.
- Morikawa finishes second with one other play, Rahm finishes worse than fifth alone and neither Hovland nor Cantlay win.
- Morikawa finishes second with two others, Rahm finishes worse than T7 with one other and neither Hovland nor Cantlay win.
- Morikawa finishes third, Rahm finishes worse than 10th alone & neither Hovland, Cantlay nor Scheffler win.
- Morikawa finishes T3 with one other, Rahm finishes worse than T15 with one other amd neither Hovland, Cantlay nor Scheffler win.
- Morikawa finishes T3 with two others, Rahm finishes worse than T22 with one other and neither Hovland, Cantlay nor Scheffler win.
- Morikawa finishes fourth alone, Jon Rahm finishes worse than T28th with two others and neither Hovland, Cantlay nor Scheffler win.
- Morikawa finishes T4 with one other, Rahm finishes worse than T55 with one other, Hovland finishes worse than second alone and neither Cantlay nor Scheffler win.

VIKTOR HOVLAND
- Hovland wins and Rahm finishes worse than third alone.
- Hovland finishes second alone, Rahm finishes worse than 49th alone and Morikawa finishes worse than fourth alone.

PATRICK CANTLAY
- Cantlay wins and Rahm finishes worse than second alone.
- Cantlay finishes second alone, Rahm finishes worse than T37 with one other and Morikawa finishes worse than T4 with one other.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER
- Scheffler wins, Rahm finishes worse than 10th alone and Morikawa finishes worse than T2 with two others.