Golf – Rankings:Phil Mickelson climbed back up to second in the latest world rankings after winning his third Masters title at Augusta last night.
Lee Westwood remains in fourth despite his second place finish at Augusta. Beating Mickelson would have taken the English player to a career-high second in the rankings, but instead Mickelson overtakes Steve Stricker, who slips to third.
Pádraig Harrington is the highest ranked Irishman at 11th with Rory McIlroy closely followed in 12th, though the pair each slipped one place after American Anthony Kim moved into the top 10 after finishing third at Augusta.
Graeme McDowell slipped outside the top 50 to 51st. Shane Lowry is only other Irish player inside the top 100 at 96th, while Darren Clarke dropped four places to 128th.
Michael Hoey moved up 25 places to 274th after his tied sixth finish at the Madeira Islands Open.
After all three Irish players – Harrington, McDowell and McIlroy - missed the cut at the first major of the year, the latter intends to take a break from the game in a bid recapture his form.
In the Ryder Cup race Oliver Wilson’s missed cut at Augusta sees him drop out of the last automatic qualifying place for the Ryder Cup. He is replaced there by Italian Francesco Molinari.
Four players qualify from the world list plus the then next five on European points list, while European captain Colin Montgomerie will add three wild cards on August 29th.
Ian Poulter returns to the top of the European Tour Race to Dubai money list after his 10th place finish at the Masters.
He took over from South African Charl Schwartzel, who came 30th on his debut at Augusta. Westwood is up to fourth in his defence of the order of merit.
Latest World Rankings
1 Tiger Woods 11.75pts
2 Phil Mickelson 9.17
3 Steve Stricker 7.88
4 Lee Westwood 7.84
5 Ian Poulter 6.17
6 Jim Furyk 6.12
7 Paul Casey 6.10
8 Ernie Els 6.02
9 Martin Kaymer 5.25
10 Anthony Kim 4.99
11 Pádraig Harrington 4.77
12 Rory McIlroy 4.53
13 Camilo Villegas 4.51
14 Geoff Ogilvy 4.45
15 Retief Goosen 4.26
16 Henrik Stenson 4.24
17 Robert Allenby 4.21
18 Hunter Mahan 3.99
19 Sergio Garcia 3.82
20 Sean O'Hair 3.80
Selected others
51 Graeme McDowell
96 Shane Lowry
128 Darren Clarke
150 Peter Lawrie
152 Gareth Maybin
222 Damien McGrane
274 Michael Hoey
277 Paul McGinley
Ryder Cup standings
World Points
1 LEE WESTWOOD 279.1
2 IAN POULTER 204.2
3 RORY McILROY 148.6
4 PADRAIG HARRINGTON 143.1
5 Martin Kaymer 132.4
6 Edoardo Molinari 127.7
7 Paul Casey 103.6
8 Ross McGowan 93.7
9 Luke Donald 91.9
10 Francesco Molinari 91.3
European Points
1 Lee Westwood 2,642,626
2 Ian Poulter 2,137,556
3 Rory McIlroy 1,442,189
4 ROSS McGOWAN 1,225,074
5 MARTIN KAYMER 1,117,045
6 SIMON DYSON 970,819
7 PAUL CASEY 938,325
8 FRANCESCO MOLINARI 875,362
9 Oliver Wilson 858,866
10 Padraig Harrington 855,152
(Capitals denote players in qualifying positions)