McIlroy ranked third in the world

Teenage prodigy Rory McIlroy has been ranked third in the newly-devised world amateur rankings. Scotland's Richie Ramsay occupies top spot.

McIlroy, the 17-year-old phenomenon from Holywood Golf Club, captured the European amateur stroke play championship as well as becoming the first player since Joe Carr in 1946 to successfully retain the Irish Close title last year.

Ramsay, winner of the United States Amateur last August, is followed by England's Jamie Moul in second place as Irish and British golfers occupy four of the top six berths.

Spaniard Pablo Martin and Korean Kyung Tae Kim are fourth and fifth, then comes Welshman Rhys Davies, a team-mate of Ramsay's at the 2005 Walker Cup.

The rankings are produced by the Royal and Ancient Club, who are monitoring the performances of 1,200 players in 450 ranking events. They will determine exemptions into this year's British amateur championship at Royal Lytham in June.

Amateur world rankings

1 Richie Ramsay (Sco) 1,167pts
2 Jamie Moul (Eng) 1,137
3 Rory McIlroy (N Ire) 1,120
4 Pablo Martin (Spa) 1,105
5 Kyung Tae Kim (Kor) 1,046
6 Rhys Davies (Wal) 1,044
7 Chris Kirk (USA) 1,034
8 Nigel Edwards (Wal) 1,026
9 Webb Simpson (USA) 1,020
10 Billy Horschel (USA) 1,013