Rory McIlroy will rise back to the top of the rankings after Jordan Spieth missed the cut at The Barclays.

Spieth, who shot a 74, his worst score for three months, at Plainfield Country Club on Thursday, could only do marginally better with a second round 73 after hitting five bogies, a double bogey and four birdies.

His struggles mean that McIlroy, who is currently recovering from an ankle injury, will return to number one despite not playing a shot this weekend as a precaution so he can fully recover from injury.

Bubba Watson and Henrik Stenson currently hold the lead on seven under.