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McIlroy magic fires him into world top 10

Rory McIlroy is up to second in the Ryder Cup standings © Getty Images

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Quail Hollow Championship gallery

Rory McIlroy's incredible triumph at the Quail Hollow Championship has fired him back into the world's top 10 after the release of the latest golf rankings.

McIlroy became the youngest player since Tiger Woods back in 1996 to win a PGA Tour title on Sunday, beating Phil Mickelson by four shots. A course record 62 lifted the 20-year-old from five-under to 15-under to leave golf critics hailing one of the great rounds of golf.

Victory lifts the Northern Ireland sensation to ninth in the world, a position he has previously occupied in his career. He leaps ahead of Germany's Martin Kaymer, while Padraig Harrington drops to 12th.

Significantly, McIlroy's triumph also moves him into second in the Ryder Cup standings behind England's Lee Westwood.

McIlroy is now being tipped to build on his success at the forthcoming Sawgrass event, but the wider issue will be the battle for the world No. 1 spot involving Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. Victory for Mickelson would mean Woods would have to finish in the top five to retain his world No. 1 status. Currently No. 2 in the world, Mickelson continues to look in superb form after adding a second-placed finish at Quail Hollow to his recent Masters victory.

Elsewhere, Open de Espana winner Alvaro Quiros jumped to 31st in the rankings and seventh in the Ryder Cup table, while Ryo Ishikawa, who carded an amazing 58 to win The Crowns tournament on the Japan Tour, is now ranked 38th.

World Rankings: 1. Tiger Woods (USA), 2. Phil Mickelson (USA), 3. Steve Stricker (USA), 4. Lee Westwood (Eng), 5. Jim Furyk (USA), 6. Ian Poulter (Eng), 7. Ernie Els (RSA), 8. Paul Casey (Eng), 9. Rory McIlroy (NI), 10. Martin Kaymer (Ger), 11. Anthony Kim (US), 12. Padraig Harrington (Ire), 13. Camilo Villegas (Col), 14. Geoff Ogilvy (Aus), 15. Retief Goosen (RSA),16. Robert Allenby (Aus), 17. Hunter Mahan (USA), 18. Henrik Stenson (Swe), 19. Luke Donald (Eng), 20. YE Yang (Kor)

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