I've heard it a thousand times from Jeff Caves and Mike Prater. "Nobody cares about the World Golf rankings." Sure, the rankings don't matter to most sports fans. But neither does a college basketball team's RPI until it comes to Selection Sunday in March. The BCS rankings really don't matter until the final week when they help decide who plays in the National Championship game.

The World golf rankings won't cause debate. They aren't as interesting as the college football polls, but they do matter. Ask Graham DeLaet. The former Boise State golfer earned his way into the British Open next week because of his spot in the rankings. He is number 67 this week thanks in part to the successful season he is having. The rankings are also based on success from the previous year. When filling openings in the field not taken by exemptions, the R&A turns to the rankings.  

When John Daly withdrew from the tournament, Scotland's Stephen Gallacher secured his spot based on his ranking. You can't tell me the ranking doesn't matter to Gallacher who will be playing at Murfield in his home country. Or to Jonas Blixt, Martin Laird, Freddie Jacobson, Mark Leishman, Ken Duke and Chris Wood. They will all be teeing it up in next week's British Open thanks to their World Golf ranking. 

A spot in the top 50 at seasons end earns a golfer a spot in all four majors the following year, plus a number of other prestigious tournaments. So while Caves and Prater think no one cares about the  World Golf rankings, I am sure there are a few people more obsessed about them than me. They just happen to be professional golfers.