Woods moves up rankings with first win since 2009

Tiger Woods has climbed back up to 21st in the world rankings after finally ending more than two years without a victory.

Woods leaps 31 places after grabbing birdies at the final two holes of the Chevron World Challenge in California to beat fellow American Zach Johnson by one.

Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood were also winners at the weekend, but they remain second and third respectively in the rankings – and still cannot catch Luke Donald even if they landed this week’s Dubai World Championship.

McIlroy, who sank a bunker shot on the last to take the Hong Kong Open by two with a closing 65, does have a chance of overhauling Donald in the European Tour money list race.

He would have to win again on Sunday though, and even then Donald, already the PGA Tour number one this season, would have to finish outside the top nine.

With Woods back in the top 50, Spain’s Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano is down to 51st and needs to improve on that to clinch a Masters debut at Augusta next April.

Latest leading positions in the world golf rankings:

1 Luke Donald 10.20pts,

2 Rory McIlroy 8.14,

3 Lee Westwood 8.08,

4 Martin Kaymer 6.91,

5 Steve Stricker 5.67,

6 Adam Scott 5.63,

7 Dustin Johnson 5.59,

8 Jason Day 5.31,

9 Webb Simpson 5.20,

10 Matt Kuchar 5.00

11 Nick Watney 4.93,

12 Phil Mickelson 4.78,

13 Charl Schwartzel 4.71,

14 Graeme McDowell 4.69,

15 KJ Choi 4.53, 16 Justin Rose 4.05,

17 Sergio Garcia 4.00, 18 Hunter Mahan 3.97,

19 Paul Casey 3.93,

20 Bubba Watson 3.90

Other leading Europeans:

22 Robert Karlsson,

26 Ian Poulter,

32 Simon Dyson,

35 Anders Hansen,

36 Thomas Bjorn,

37 Fredrik Jacobson,

40 Francesco Molinari,

41 Miguel A Jimenez,

43 Darren Clarke,

46 Martin Laird,

49 Peter Hanson,

51 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano,

52 Alvaro Quiros,

58 Matteo Manassero,

63 Edoardo Molinari,

66 Alexander Noren,

68 Joost Luiten,

78 Nicolas Colsaerts,

82 Padraig Harrington,

86 Jamie Donaldson,

87 Pablo Larrazabal,

92 Gregory Havret,

93 Ross Fisher,

98 David Lynn