THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 SPORTS In golf, being No. 1 does not mean being No. 1 that week NORTON: Good news for the PGA Tour. The that the PGA Tour has no tournament. That musical chairs was the summer of 1997 “The only way I can answer that is that it impossible. The world ranking does a rea- battle for No. 1 in the Official World Golf gives McIlroy his own slice of world ranking when Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Greg wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I sonable job making it plausible. Ranking is so confounding that no one is history - a record third time he goes to No. 1 Norman were each No. 1 over three weeks. remember I went to No. 1 in August that The fact a player can miss the cut - two in complaining about all the points and projec- by sitting out the previous week.Thankfully, That was easier to stomach because Els year,” Duval said Monday. “Just getting there a row, in Spieth’s case - and go to No. 1 is no tions of the FedEx Cup. McIlroy managed to provide a little clarity. “It (Buick Classic) and Norman (St. Jude Classic) and being there awhile ... you know, I didn’t reason to blow up the system and start over. Give it time. The FedEx Cup still has two is what it is,” he said. Minus a tweak or two won tournaments to get there. much pay attention to it after that.” And it would be rash to suggest that golf tournaments left before it awards $10 mil- over the years, it is what it has always been. It doesn’t always work out that way. Spieth knows the feeling. He got to No. 1 should be measured by one year instead of lion to a player who might not have had the The world ranking is easy to mock at the Woods and David Duval traded time at the for the first time with a runner-up finish to the current two-year formula. best year. Or might not win at all. moment because of the changes that are top of the ranking in the summer of 1999 Jason Day at the PGA Championship with a Getting to No. 1 is no small achievement, The world ranking? That will be cleared related more to when points are incremen- when they met in the infamous “Showdown score that would have won all but two PGAs and arguably more difficult than winning a up soon enough. For the moment, this is as tally deducted over a two-year period. It’s at Sherwood,” an 18-hole match that was in more than a half-century of stroke play. major. Otherwise, it’s little more than a con- bizarre as it has ever been. Jordan Spieth still based on results, just not the most billed as Monday Night Golf. Woods, who He recalls crossing the third-base line to versation piece. made history Tuesday, just not the variety he recent. had returned to No. 1 a month earlier, pulled throw out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers McIlroy has won seven times in the last would have wanted. There have been 61 Asked if he understood the math away when Duval hit the straightest drive of game when he heard over the loudspeaker two years with two majors in 2014. Spieth changes at the top in the 30 years of the involved, McIlroy said, “I left school when I his career, right into the rock formation in being introduced publicly for the first time has won six times over the last two years world ranking, and Spieth is the only one was 15, but I understand it to a certain the middle of the 16th fairway. Woods won, as No. 1 in the world. It was a big deal. with two majors in 2015. Over two years, it’s who got to No. 1 by missing the cut. It gets degree.” Forget the math and consider the 2 and 1. McIlroy got there for the first time by a push. Over the last year, it’s Spieth. Over better. history. During an eight-month stretch start- Both players took that week off from the holding off a late charge by Woods to win the last three months, not many would Rory McIlroy, who closed with a 66 at the ing in September 1990, four players went to tour and Duval went back to No. 1.Duval’s the Honda Classic in 2012. “The first time is argue against Jason Day. “We all know who Deutsche Bank Championship and tied for No. 1 by not playing the previous week - recollection of his return to No. 1 without always sweeter,” he said. the best player is,” McIlroy said, pausing to 29th, will return to No. 1 next Monday even Nick Faldo (twice), Greg Norman and Ian playing is worth noting because for the Trying to measure golfers from tours on smile. “And it’s not me.” Until next week, though this is the one week of the season Woosnam. Perhaps the greatest episode of longest time he had no recollection at all. all six continents where the game is played is anyway. — AP Where did Tyler Sash go? IOWA CITY: Before the news broke in 2012 that Tyler Sash would be suspended by the NFL for using Adderall, I received a text from Tyler Sash. He laid it all out. Why he did it. How angry he was for allowing that to happen. He owned it and served his punishment. Then, after the 2012 season, Sash was cut. He always intended to work out and earn his way back into the league. You know that didn’t hap- pen. Today, we all learned Tyler Sash’s life ended. He was found dead this morning in his Oskaloosa home. All we know about it is that he was 27 and he was alone and that is jarring. Sash had a pretty straightforward exterior during interviews. You wanted X-and-Os? He gave you X-and-O. You wanted to have a little fun? Maybe. He better know you and trust you. I think he reached that point during his years at Iowa, the roaring late 2000s. That Indiana ricochet interception (the first ricochet came off the back of his helmet, by the way) and return for a TD, that happened on Halloween 2009. “Coach called it a miracle,” Sash said before the 2010 Orange Bowl. “There’s a picture in the com- plex and someone was dressed as Jesus in the background. They were saying it was a miracle TOKYO: Yana Shcherban of Russia spikes against the Dominican Republic dur- and there’s a picture of me and Jesus in the back- ing their first round of the Women’s World Cup Volleyball. — AP ground. It was funny.” Here’s me during that Orange Bowl interview: Have you seen that thing on the Internet? It’s a Poland defeat Russia picture of you with a bunch of rainbows shooting out and says “Tyler motherbloooooooop Sash?” INDIANAPOLIS: In this Feb. 5, 2012, file photo, New York Giants’ Tyler Sash (39) takes HAMAMATSU: World champion Poland Facundo Conte added 17. “Yeah, I saw that. I didn’t know what it meant,” he said. “You could take it two different ways. I a moment before the start of the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game against the New came from a set down to beat defending Italy also reached 2-0 with a com- England Patriots. — AP champion Russia 26-28, 27-25, 25-19, 25- fortable 25-17, 25-18, 25-15 win over didn’t know if I was the next Power Ranger or if it 22 at the volleyball World Cup yesterday. Australia, which dropped to 0-2, while meant something else.” What does mom think of It was a little ‘70s detective show. It was a little mented concussions in the NFL. I know he took Bartosz Kurek scored 25 points as Iran picked up its first win by defeating that? “I don’t think she’s seen it. I don’t think she’d of the 2004 movie with Ben Stiller and Owen some friendly fire from a teammate at practice at Poland improved its record to 2-0. The Tunisia 25-17, 21-25, 25-14, 25-20. like it.” Wouldn’t it look good on a T-shirt? “That’s Wilson. It was a buddy movie with each star tak- least once. Two shoulder surgeries. At that Orange United States also stayed unbeaten and Canada beat Egypt, after almost blow- for the 18-to-22-year-olds to decide.” ing a turn in front of the camera. Bowl, I asked him about throwing his body into gave Japan a first loss by 25-23, 21-25, ing it, 25-22, 25-23, 21-25, 24-26, 15-12 Here’s me asking about the “Sash is Trash” T- “I’m probably the Ben Stiller. He’s more of the being a box safety. 25-11, 25-14. Argentina moved to 2-0 as for its first win. Two berths for the Rio shirts a few of his friends who went to ISU wore Owen Wilson type,” said Greenwood as he pointed “I think everybody at the end of the year is it outlasted Venezuela 30-32, 25-15, 24- de Janeiro Olympics are on offer in the during the 2009 game at Ames (the game Sash at Sash. Starsky and Hutch.