Jordan Spieth closing in on McIlroy's world number one

Jordan Spieth left St Andrews missing out on the double: his failure to add the Claret Jug to his US Masters and US Open titles meant that the "Spieth Slam" was over, and his tied-fourth finish meant that he failed to overtake Rory McIlroy at the top of the official world rankings.

McIlroy has topped the world rankings ever since last year’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and there could yet be an ironic symmetry in Spieth’s pursuit of the Northern Irishman as the American has the opportunity to overtake him in next month’s tournament in Akron – but only if he wins!

Rehabilitation programme

A decision on whether McIlroy can defend his title at the Bridgestone or the following week’s US PGA is expected next week, as the golfer undergoes a rehabilitation programme – under the supervision of Dr Steve McGregor, a fitness expert and sports scientist who has also worked with Manchester City – on his ruptured ATFL ankle ligament.

Although McIlroy, despite his absence from St Andrews, remains at number one, Spieth has narrowed the gap and the pair are separated by less than one percentage point: McIlroy is on 12.60 points average to Spieth’s 11.66. A win for Spieth at the Bridgestone would enable him to leapfrog McIlroy, or, alternatively, he has the chance to do so at the following week’s PGA at Whistling Straits where he will be chasing a third Major title of the year.

The Open proved to be a step too far for Spieth, but he finished only one shot outside the play-off won by Zach Johnson.

Spieth was undone by poor putting on slow greens: he had five three-putts in his second round and, in Monday’s final round, he four-putted on the eighth hole.

“I struck the ball phenomenally well. I drove the ball as good as I’ve driven it this entire year, including the other Majors and every other tournament.”

Paul Dunne was back to the reality of life as an amateur yesterday when he joined up with other Walker Cup hopefuls in a Britain and Ireland squad session at Royal Lytham and St Annes, where the match against the USA will be held in September. The Greystones golfer's efforts in the Open have led to him jumping from 1,615th to 896th in the latest official world rankings.

For Shane Lowry, who missed the cut at St Andrews, there will be an anxious wait ahead of next Monday’s world rankings which is one of the qualifying cut-off points for the WGC-Bridgestone. Lowry has slipped three places to 48th in the latest world rankings with the top-50 next Monday assured of places in the field in Akron. The Offalyman is not playing in the European Masters in Switzerland this week.

Already assured

Pádraig Harrington returned to the world’s top-100 – in 95th spot – but is already assured of his place in the Bridgestone field due to his win in the Honda Classic earlier this season.

Of the five Irish players who competed in the Open, Graeme McDowell – who has slipped to 58th in the world rankings – is the only one in action this week.

McDowell is at the end of a four-week stint that has taken in the French Open (missed cut), Scottish Open (tied-31st) and British Open (tied-49th) and headed back on a charter flight on Monday night for the Canadian Open.

Meanwhile, the R&A has yet to decide on British Open venues beyond 2018, although it is expected that it will return to the Old Course in 2021 – rather than 2020 – as it will be the 150th anniversary of the championship.