McIlroy climbs to third in world rankings

RORY McILROY had something else to celebrate yesterday — a climb to a career-high third in the world.

Northern Ireland’s new US Open champion overtook Martin Kaymer when the German failed to finish in the top eight at the BMW International Open in Munich.

Now only Luke Donald and Lee Westwood are ahead of 22-year-old McIlroy, who is on a three-week break after his amazing eight-shot victory at Congressional.

He returns in the Open at Sandwich on July 14-17, but before that Kaymer is at this week’s French Open and both Donald and Westwood are entered for the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart near Inverness starting on Thursday week.

Meanwhile, Des Smyth captured his fourth European Senior Tour title in thrilling fashion with a sublime round of 65 at the Van Lanschot Senior Open in Holland.