• World Rankings

Westwood blows chance for career-high ranking

ESPN staff
February 1, 2010
Lee Westwood was the joint leader with three to play in Qatar © Getty Images
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Lee Westwood's wayward putting on the final three holes at the Qatar Masters cost him a career-high world ranking position of third.

The 36-year-old was tied for the lead as he approached the 16th, but he bogeyed that hole and proceeded to miss birdie putts to par the next two. Finishing runner-up to Robert Karlsson in Qatar would have taken him above Steve Stricker in the rankings.

Karlsson climbed from 31st to 17th following a victory that confirmed his return to form having missed four months in 2009 with blurred vision caused by fluid behind the retina in his left eye.

In the No. 1 position Tiger Woods, despite his present hiatus of unspecified length, continues to hold off Phil Mickelson. Places seven to nine are respectively filled by Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy. The latter returns to the top ten following a week's absence after the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

He replaces Ian Poulter, who sinks to 11th after failing to make the cut in Qatar. Sergio Garcia ranks three places beneath the Englishman, while Ross Fisher is No. 21.

Following a first-round 67 that put him in the lead after day one at the Doha Club, Oliver Wilson rises three places to No. 40 - seven below Luke Donald.

1) Tiger WOODS (USA), 2) Phil MICKELSON (USA), 3) Steve STRICKER (USA), 4) Lee WESTWOOD (GBR), 5) Jim FURYK (USA), 6) Martin KAYMER (GER), 7) Paul CASEY (GBR), 8) Padraig HARRINGTON (IRE), 9) Rory MCILROY (N. IRE), 10) Henrik STENSON (SWE)

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