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Dublin: 10 °C Wednesday 22 May, 2013

On the brink of eye-watering Nike deal, Rory McIlroy starts the year top of world rankings

And Tiger’s back up to second behind Luke Donald for some strange reason.

Rory McIlroy: ready to tee off in Abu Dhabi.
Rory McIlroy: ready to tee off in Abu Dhabi.
Image: Lynne Cameron/PA Wire/Press Association Images

MONDAYS AREN’T TOO bad if you’re Rory McIlroy.

The Holywood native’s proposed multi-million euro deal with Nike may be announced later today and this morning he’s been confirmed as the world No 1 again.

Tiger Woods is back at second place behind McIlroy ahead of their 2013 debut in Abu Dhabi this week. Woods edges ahead of Luke Donald despite neither player playing last week.

Louis Oosthuizen climbs to a career-high fourth in the wake of his Volvo Champions victory in Durban yesterday.

The South African has moved above Justin Rose and Adam Scott, who both dropped one position.  In the other change to the top 10, Steve Stricker has moved up to 10th, replacing fellow American Jason Dufner. The biggest mover in the rankings was PGA Tour rookie Russell Henley, who became the first player to win his debut tournament in 12 years when he triumphed at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Henley carded a seven-under 63 to claim a three-shot victory, taking him from 130th in the world to 50th position on the OWGR.

Latest leading positions in the world golf rankings:

1 Rory McIlroy 12.83pts, 2 Tiger Woods 8.29, 3 Luke Donald 8.28, 4 Louis Oosthuizen 6.71, 5 Justin Rose 6.23, 6 Adam Scott 6.15, 7 Lee Westwood 5.81, 8 Brandt Snedeker 5.39, 9 Bubba Watson 5.35, 10 Steve Stricker 5.12, 11 Jason Dufner 5.09, 12 Keegan Bradley 5.07, 13 Dustin Johnson 5.03, 14 Ian Poulter 5.01, 15 Webb Simpson 4.88, 16 Charl Schwartzel 4.76, 17 Graeme McDowell 4.69, 18 Sergio Garcia 4.58, 19 Phil Mickelson 4.51, 20 Peter Hanson 4.48

Other leading Europeans: 28 Martin Kaymer, 29 Paul Lawrie, 30 Francesco Molinari, 31 Carl Pettersson, 33 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, 35 Nicolas Colsaerts, 41 Matteo Manassero, 45 Thomas Bjorn, 46 David Lynn, 47 Jamie Donaldson, 48 Pádraig Harrington, 52 Thorbjorn Olesen, 53 Richie Ramsay, 54 Shane Lowry, 56 Henrik Stenson, 57 Rafael Cabrera Bello, 59 Miguel Angel Jimenez, 61 Marcel Siem, 62 Alexander Noren, 64 Bernd Wiesberger, 66 Anders Hansen, 69 Fredrik Jacobson, 71 Simon Dyson, 72 Scott Jamieson, 76 Martin Laird, 79 Jonas Blixt, 81 Kristoffer Broberg, 84 Danny Willett, 90 Pablo Larrazabal, 92 Fredrik Andersson Hed, 100 Ross Fisher.

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Comments (15 Comments)

  • Great to see Harrington creep up the world rankings to 48, good start to 2013, he putted well at the weekend like times of old

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  • The rankings are based on an average weighted score from the last two years I think. So while neither Luke Donald or Tiger scored any points this week, Donald must have lost more points from the week that rolled off than Tiger did.

    So not strange at all if you think about it!

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  • Jesus Anne, take it easy……or are you really Anne ???
    Or are you Holly Sweeney in disguise !!!
    Mmmmm I think so…….

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  • 2013 will be the year Tiger gets back to where he belongs, top of the rankings, 2 majors for tiger as well this year

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  • Really hope that Tiger destroys Rory in 2013.

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  • Reading all this about madly over paid sports people must bring boundless excitement to the many recently redundant workers still living in Celtic Tiger “boxes” under threat of repossession. Millions and millions of dollars.
    I’m sure it does bring joy to the 2/3% of the population that actually follow little balls through the fields.
    This is only a game and these people should not be lauded as they are – footballers included.

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    • Well golfers and footballers are the people who generate the massive revenues involved in the sports. Who should get that money? Does Roman Abramovich deserve a £150k a week salary or does John Terry deserve it? This is particularly true of golfers; when they don’t perform they rely on sponsors money, which isn’t great unless you’re an elite player. Sure Rory McIlroy is earning millions a year, but he is the best in the world. Doesn’t he deserve it?

      Reply
    • Someone will Always find a negative and moan!

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    • I am surprised that Abramovitch only gets €150,000 a week. How many people does he employ? How much revenue does he provide for Russia? Alternatively, what do the other two you mention provide for he wider community except a little entertainment for a small section of society and a even smaller section in the case of golf. Get things in perspective, golf is a ridiculous little game.

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    • Edmond .. what’s wrong pal you cack handed or something and are a frustrated golfer ?? He’s the world number in his sport , he deserves all he gets , he’s playing the game 20 yrs . he didn’t fall on a winning lotto ticket , this is years of hard work paying off . Are bitter against all sports stars or just the ones in sports you don’t like ?? you sound a bitter old man

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    • Edmond I’m not talking about the merits of either sport. What I am saying is that these elite sportsmen generate the revenue, it wouldn’t exist without them. Of course they deserve every penny of it.
      Man United had 75,000 fans at Old Trafford yesterday. Assuming they pay on average £40 each to watch the match, that’s an income of £3,000,000 for the club. Estimating an average weekly wage at Man United of £80k a week for 20 players, then that’s a weekly wage bill of £1.6m. That leaves the club with £1.4m to cover their other expenses for the week. I hardly think they are overpaid.

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    • Actually I am quite a proficient golfer, I just find most of the individuals who play and follow the game totally boring and obsessive. It is just a game played by a very small percentage of the World’s population but it appears, a lot of the readers of this site – all the disapproving “thumbs down”
      In relation to Man U, I am told that the tickets are in the region of £60 – even more money for the Glasser (not sure of that) family.
      Sport is great and would survive without the stars and the big money. I can’t wait for Darts in the Olympics.

      Reply

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