World Rankings: Rory McIlroy climbed 61 places to 111th in the latest world rakings following his play-off defeat to France's Jean-François Lucquin at yesterday's Omega European Masters in Crans-sur-Sierre.
McIlroy held a four shot lead going into the final round but quickly fell back into the pack after early mistakes. However, the Holywood teenager regained his composure and had a five foot putt on the 72nd hole to win his maiden European Tour event but missed.
Lucquin shot a bogey free final round 67 to match McIlroy's 13-under 271 aggregate and force the play-off. When the 19-year-old casually missed a short putt at the second sudden-death hole he gifted the Frenchman his first title in 175 starts.
After wining the €333,330 winner's cheque Lucquin climbs to 241st - a jump of 219 places - in the world while McIlroy, who won €222,220, moves ever closer to breaking into the world's top 100 in his first full season as a professional.
Of greater importance to McIlroy is the fact he has moved inside the top 60 of the European Tour Order of Merit and has secured a place at the season-ending Volvo Masters at the end of October. With earnings of €490,577, McIlroy is 46th on a list headed by Pádraig Harrington (€2,350,556).
Elsewhere Colombian Camilo Villegas climbs into the world top 20 for the first time after his victory in the US Tour's BMW Championship, the third leg of the FedEx Cup play-off series.
Jim Furyk is back into the top 10 following his third place finish.
Official World Ranking:
1 Tiger Woods (USA) 17.01pts
2 Phil Mickelson (USA) 9.29
3 Vijay Singh (Fij) 7.67
4 Padraig Harrington (Irl) 7.49
5 Sergio Garcia (Spa) 6.86
6 Henrik Stenson (Swe) 5.40
7 Ernie Els (Rsa) 5.34
8 Steve Stricker (USA) 5.16
9 Jim Furyk (USA) 5.11
10 Stewart Cink (USA) 4.93
11 Anthony Kim (USA) 4.89
12 Lee Westwood (Eng) 4.81
13 Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 4.75
14 Justin Rose (Eng) 4.73
15 Adam Scott (Aus) 4.70
16 KJ Choi (Kor) 4.57
17 Kenny Perry (USA) 4.28
18 Camilo Villegas (Col) 4.28
19 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 4.14
20 Trevor Immelman (Rsa) 3.96
Selected others:
30 Graeme McDowell (Nir) 3.23
63 Darren Clarke (Nir) 2.08
85 Paul McGinley (Ire) 1.74
111 Rory McIlroy (Nir) 1.38
169 Peter Lawrie (Ire) 1.05
181 Damien McGrane (Ire) 0.99
