Rory McIlroy can retake the No. 1 spot from Jordan Spieth, despite not playing in The Barclays

Jordan Spieth is quickly finding out that, when you're at the top, everyone wants a piece of you. Including, apparently, math.

According to the Golf Channel, Spieth can lose his No. 1 golf world ranking this week to Rory McIlroy with a 15th-or-worse finish. Which wouldn't be bizarre, except for one slight caveat:

McIlroy isn't playing this week.

Because of the nuanced equation of the Official World Golf Ranking, Spieth, despite a strong Barclays field and McIlroy's absence, would get docked without a sound performance at Plainfield Country Club.

"As far as No. 1 in the world, there are people, plenty of guys on tour right now that have held that position for longer than a week, and I'm happy to be in that position now," Spieth said at the Edison, New Jersey course on Tuesday. "But I'd like to obviously hold it."

Not that Spieth is putting too much stock into this hypothetical.

"If you win each week, you're going to stay No. 1 and in my mind, that's the goal is to approach each tournament to try and win and then try and keep this position for hopefully years.

"But again, it can change in two weeks' time, so I'm aware of that."

WATCH: GOLF DIGEST VIDEOS