Poulter hits new high

Ian Poulter is up to a career-high 18th in the world after finishing runner-up to Ryder Cup team-mate Henrik Stenson at the Players Championship in Florida.

Stenson’s win takes him from ninth to fifth, a position he last occupied two years ago, while John Daly’s joint second place in the Italian Open improves his position from 794th to 451st.

Winner Daniel Vancsik, of Argentina, is up from 420th to 213th.

Latest leading positions:

1 Tiger Woods 9.87pts, 2 Phil Mickelson 8.47, 3 Sergio Garcia 6.79, 4 Geoff Ogilvy 6.36, 5 Henrik Stenson 6.29, 6 Kenny Perry 5.71, 7 Paul Casey 5.69, 8 Padraig Harrington 5.30, 9 Vijay Singh 5.26, 10 Camilo Villegas 4.84, 11 Robert Karlsson 4.58, 12 Sean O’Hair 4.52, 13 Steve Stricker 4.47, 14 Jim Furyk 4.40, 15 Anthony Kim 4.17, 16 Lee Westwood 3.90, 17 Ernie Els 3.86, 18 Ian Poulter 3.79, 19 Rory McIlroy 3.73, 20 Mike Weir 3.50

Other leading Europeans:

23 Luke Donald, 24 Martin Kaymer, 28 Alvaro Quiros, 34 Miguel Angel Jimenez, 36 Justin Rose, 38 Ross Fisher, 42 Oliver Wilson, 46 Soren Kjeldsen, 50 Graeme McDowell, 54 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, 64 Peter Hanson, 67 Anders Hansen, 70 Soren Hansen, 72 Francesco Molinari, 89 Darren Clarke, 95 Carl Pettersson, 97 Fredrik Jacobson, 98 Anthony Wall