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Rory McIlroy says the world number one ranking has been passed around “like a hot potato” as he looks to regain top spot at the Genesis Invitational.<\/span><\/p>\n McIlroy became number one for the ninth time when defending his CJ Cup title in October before being replaced by Scottie Scheffler, who retained his Phoenix Open title last weekend.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The American now leads by 0.5 points.<\/span><\/p>\n McIlroy will return to the top if he wins in California, regardless of Scheffler’s position. <\/span><\/p>\n A third-place finish for the Northern Irishman will also be good enough unless Scheffler finishes in the top 25 or Jon Rahm wins or finishes second.<\/span><\/p>\n “Yeah, of course I care about it,” McIlroy told a pre-tournament press conference. “I think it’s a really cool thing to be ranked number one in whatever you do, but I think it just goes to show the level of depth and the level of talent that’s out here.<\/span><\/p>\n “I literally have one average week, it wasn’t even a bad week, just an average week, and there’s always someone waiting to overtake you or to come and try to take that mantle from you. I think it’s a great thing for the game.<\/span><\/p>\n “I’ve got a chance to get it back this week. You know, hopefully it’s a bit of a sort of hot potato thing where me, Scottie and Jon [Rahm] sort of pass it around a little bit because it means we’re all playing great golf.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n