• World Rankings

McIlroy snatches No. 1 spot from Donald

Luke Donald's second spell as world No. 1 is over - for now © Getty Images

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Luke Donald has lost the world No. 1 ranking to Rory McIlroy after a disappointing finish at the RBC Heritage.

Donald needed to place inside the top eight to maintain his lead over McIlroy, but wound up in a tie for 37th at two over.

The Englishman was facing a arduous struggle as soon as he signed for a first-round 75 - and, although he steadied himself with a 69 on day two, a pair of 71s over the weekend could not stop him surrendering top rank. Carl Pettersson of Sweden won the tournament by five shots from Zach Johnson.

Donald first claimed the world No. 1 ranking at the BMW PGA Championship last year; he lost it earlier this year when McIlroy won the Honda Classic, only to snatch it back soon after.

McIlroy finished two strokes below Donald at The Masters - although both were well off the pace set by play-off victor Bubba Watson. McIlroy's next appearance will come at the Wells Fargo Championship later this month at Quail Hollow.

Meanwhile, South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, runner-up at The Masters and then a winner in Malaysia over the weekend, climbs to 12th.

World rankings: 1. Rory McIlroy (NIR), 2. Luke Donald (ENG), 3. Lee Westwood (ENG), 4. Bubba Watson (USA), 5. Hunter Mahan (USA), 6. Martin Kaymer (GER), 7. Steve Stricker (USA), 8. Tiger Woods (USA), 9. Phil Mickelson (USA), 10. Justin Rose (ENG), 11. Adam Scott (AUS), 12. Louis Oosthuizen (SAF), 13. Charl Schwartzel (SAF), 14. Webb Simpson (USA), 15. Matt Kuchar (USA), 16. Dustin Johnson (USA), 17. Jason Day (AUS), 18. Graeme McDowell (NIR), 19. Bill Haas (USA), 20. Keegan Bradley (USA).

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