GOLF: Paul Casey climbed to 21st in the latest world rankings after yesterday's victory in the Abu Dhabi Championship where Sergio Garcia and Pádraig Harrington both closed the gap on world number one Tiger Woods.
Casey regained the title he won in Abu Dhabi two years ago after holding off the challenges of South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen and Germany’s Martin Kaymer. Casey shot a final round 70 for a tournament record 21-under-par winning aggregate and climbed 21 places in the rankings.
Kaymer moved up to 19th after his joint runner-up finish and is included into the top world’s top 20 for the first time in his career.
Harrington closed with a final round 66 and tied fifth on 17-under par alongside Rory McIlroy, who went one better to close with a 65 in the Emirates. Garcia was a shot further back after he carded a 64. McIlroy climbed five places to 35th in the world.
Garcia and Harrington remain second and third respectively in the standings but edged ever closer to Woods, who remains sidelined with a knee injury. The American is earmarked for a return to action at the WGC – Accenture World Matchplay at the end of February.
Former Masters champion Zach Johnson shot a final round 65 for a 15-under-par 265 total to win the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club in Hawaii and improves from 44th to 27th.
Retief Goosen won the Africa Open with a final round 65 in the Sunshine Tour event at East London Golf Club. The South African finished one shot clear of Darren Clarke, Michael Hoey, Branden Grace and Darren Fichardt and climbed nine places to 40th.
Hoey’s effort ensured he made one of the biggest moves of the week, up 69 places to 296th in the world. Clarke only moved up two places to 71st.
Latest positions in the world rankings:
1 Tiger Woods 11.06pts
2 Sergio Garcia 7.91
3 Pádraig Harrington 6.79
4 Phil Mickelson 6.69
5 Vijay Singh 6.42
6 Geoff Ogilvy 5.15
7 Robert Karlsson 4.97
8 Anthony Kim 4.76
9 Camilo Villegas 4.68
10 Lee Westwood 4.51
11 Henrik Stenson 4.49
12 Ernie Els 4.46
13 Jim Furyk 4.19
14 Adam Scott 4.03
15 Kenny Perry 3.87
16 Steve Stricker 3.63
17 Stewart Cink 3.62
18 KJ Choi 3.62
19 Martin Kaymer 3.43
20 Justin Rose 3.39
Selected Irish rankings:
35 Rory McIlroy
36 Graeme McDowell
71 Darren Clarke
92 Gareth Maybin
112 Paul McGinley
173 Damien MCGrane
169 Peter Lawrie
296 Michael Hoey
382 Gary Murphy
459 Michael McGeady
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