McIlroy reaches career high seventh in world rankings

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Rory McIlroy’s superb performances during The European Tour’s ‘Gulf Swing’ have moved the 20 year old move up to a career high of seventh on the Official World Golf Ranking, with European players strengthening their positions ahead of next week’s WGC – Accenture Match Play.
McIlroy’s share of sixth place in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, which followed his third place in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, was his fifth consecutive top ten finish, a run which has taken him back into the World’s Top Ten.
Lee Westwood’s play-off defeat by Miguel Angel Jiménez at Emirates Golf Club meant The 2009 Race to Dubai winner now trails third placed Phil Mickelson after Steve Stricker leapfrogged the left-hander by winning the Northern Trust Open in California.
Westwood, in fourth, remains the highest ranked European player at today’s cut-off point for next week’s WGC – Accenture Match Play in Arizona, with sixth placed Martin Kaymer, McIlroy, Paul Casey, Henrik Stenson and Padraig Harrington also occupying places in the World’s Top Ten.
England’s Ian Poulter is just outside the top ten in 11th place with defending WGC - Accenture Match Play champion Geoff Ogilvy in 12th, while Ross Fisher’s share of 11th place in Dubai moves him back into the top 20 in 19th position.
Jiménez’s victory in Dubai, his 16th European Tour title, saw the Spaniard move up 30 places to 30th on the Official World Golf Ranking, ensuring his ticket to Tucson next week.
With the top 64 in the world qualifying for the WGC – Accenture Match Play, England’s Chris Wood is set to join Jiménez in the field, with Mickelson stating he will not be participating due to family reasons.
Ross McGowan, in 66th position, will qualify should Tiger Woods’ indefinite break from playing continue or any other player withdraw from the field, while World No 67 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño is also poised to step in should there be any further drop outs.
Meanwhile Tom Watson’s share of eighth place in Dubai – a record for a player over 60 in a European Tour event – moved the eight-time Major Champion back to the fringes of World’s Top 100 in 105th place.

THE WORLD'S TOP 50 PROS THIS WEEK
1 Tiger Woods (US) 13.10.
2 Steve Stricker (US) 7.91.
3 Phil Mickelson (US) 7.63.
4 Lee Westwood (Eng) 7.01.
5 Jim Furyk (US) 5.40.
6 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 5.36.
7 Rory McIlroy (NIre) 5.15.
8 Paul Casey (Eng) 5.12.
9 Henrik Stenson (Swe) 5.05.
10 Padraig Harrington (Ire) 5.03.
11 Ian Poulter (Eng) 4.98.
12 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 4.88.
13 Kenny Perry (US) 4.51.
14 Robert Allenby (Aus) 4.21.
15 Sergio Garcia (Spa) 4.19.
16 Sean O'Hair (US) 4.09.
17 Ernie Els (SAf) 4.02.
18 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 3.99.
19 Ross Fisher (Eng) 3.98.
20 Retief Goosen (SAf) 3.94.
21 Stewart Cink (US) 3.87.
22 Lucas Glover (US)
23 Luke Donald (Eng) 3.47.
24 Zach Johnson (US) 3.46.
25 Camilo Villegas (Col) 3.30.
26 Angel Cabrera (Arg) 3.27.
27 Anthony Kim (US) 3.24.
28 Y E Yang (SKor) 2.98.
29 Alvaro Quiros (Spain) 2.97.
30 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 2.92.
31 Vijay Singh (Fiji) 2.90.
31 Hunter Mahan (US) 2.90.
33 Nick Watney (US) 2.89.
34 Ryo Ishikawa (Japan) 2.82.
35 Michael Sim (Sco/Aus) 2.69.
36 Yuta Ikeda (Japan) 2.69.
37 Charl Schwartzel (SAf) 2.67.
38 Tim Clark (SAf) 2.64.
39 Oliver Wilson (Eng) 2.63.
40 Mike Weir (Canada) 2.61.
41 Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark) 2.59.
42 Matt Kuchar (US) 2.54.
42 Adam Scott (Aus) 2.54.
44 Dustin Johnson (US) 2.51.
45 Francesco Molinari (Ita) 2.49.
46 Graeme McDowell (NIre) 2.48.
47 Anders Hansen (Denmark) 2.46.
48 Edoardo Molinari (Italy) 2.46.
49 Soren Hansen (Denmark) 2.41.
50 Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 2.39.