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Luke Donald with his wife Diane, and daughters Elle (on floor) and baby Sophia Ann yesterday. Adam Davy/EMPICS Sport
Top man

Luke Donald back at No 1, Rory drops to second

The two have been duelling for the top spot for the past three months with the position changing hands several times.

LUKE DONALD’S WIN in the PGA Championship at Wentworth on Sunday has vaulted him back ahead of Rory McIlroy atop golf’s world rankings.

The two have been duelling for the top spot for the past three months with the position changing hands several times.

McIlroy eased ahead on 6 May when he lost in a play-off in the United States to Rickie Fowler, but he failed to make the cut at Wentworth, opening the door once again for Englishman Donald.

He needed a top eight finish to replace McIlroy and achieved that comfortably defending his title with a three-stroke victory over Paul Lawrie of Scotland and Justin Rose of England. Rose’s finish meant he moves up to sixth in the rankings, matching his best ever position. Lawrie is up to 29th taking him past Martin Laird as Scotland’s top-ranking player.

In America, Jason Dufner just missed out on a third win in four starts, being beaten by Zach Johnson, but he still enters the world top 10 for the first time.

World top 20: 1. Luke Donald (ENG) 10.43pts, 2. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 9.39, 3. Lee Westwood (ENG) 8.05, 4. Bubba Watson (USA) 6.37, 5. Matt Kuchar (USA) 6.04, 6. Justin Rose (ENG) 5.60,  7. Hunter Mahan (USA) 5.48,  8. Jason Dufner (USA) 5.30, 9. Tiger Woods (USA) 5.16, 10. Steve Stricker (USA) 5.07, 11. Martin Kaymer (GER) 5.06, 12. Phil Mickelson (USA) 5.03, 13. Webb Simpson (USA) 4.96, 14. Louis Oosthuizen (RSA) 4.80, 15. Adam Scott (AUS) 4.80, 16. Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 4.78, 17. Zach Johnson (USA) 4.64, 18. Jason Day (AUS) 4.61, 19. Rickie Fowler (USA) 4.59, 20. Dustin Johnson (USA) 4.56.

- © AFP, 2012

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