Rose continues to rise in world rankings

Justin Rose’s rise up the world rankings goes on even when he is not playing.

The new rankings issued today see Europe’s top player now at a best-ever sixth thanks to Adam Scott finishing “only” joint sixth in the Australian PGA championship this weekend.

Ernie Els becomes the next player in Rose’s sights, the South African remaining at fifth after an amazing triple-bogey eight on the final hole – he twice found the lake round the green – cost him victory at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in his home country.

England’s John Bickerton, stunned to take the title in the circumstances given that Els was two clear on the tee and then hit a perfect drive, is now 161st on the rankings.

Rose returns to action this week at the Target World Challenge in California. That event sees host Tiger Woods playing for the first time since the Presidents Cup at the end of September.

Open champion Padraig Harrington, former winner Luke Donald, Paul Casey and Swedes Henrik Stenson and Niclas Fasth are also in the 16-man line-up.

Latest leading positions on world rankings:

1 Tiger Woods 20.79pts, 2 Phil Mickelson 9.20, 3 Jim Furyk 7.02, 4 Steve Stricker 6.75, 5 Ernie Els 6.67, 6 Justin Rose 6.09, 7 Adam Scott 6.04, 8 Padraig Harrington 5.86, 9 KJ Choi 5.39, 10 Vijay Singh 5.38

11 Rory Sabbatini 5.24, 12 Sergio Garcia 5.04, 13 Geoff Ogilvy 5.03, 14 Angel Cabrera 4.60, 15 Zach Johnson 4.41, 16 Henrik Stenson 4.32, 17 Luke Donald 4.21, 18 Aaron Baddeley 4.10, 19 Trevor Immelman 3.94, 20 Niclas Fasth 3.59

Other leading Europeans:

21 Paul Casey, 22 Ian Poulter, 24 Lee Westwood, 37 Miguel Angel Jimenez, 41 Robert Karlsson, 44 Soren Hansen, 48 Nick Dougherty, 49 Anders Hansen, 53 Bradley Dredge, 55 Peter Hanson, 56 Colin Montgomerie, 60 Carl Pettersson, 62 Mikko Ilonen, 67 Simon Dyson, 68 Jose Maria Olazabal, 70 Soren Kjeldsen, 76 Martin Kaymer, 78 Bernhard Langer, 81 Fredrik Jacobson, 83 Steve Webster, 86 Raphael Jacquelin, 87 Ross Fisher, 94 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, 99 Thomas Bjorn