World RankingsBrian KeoghRory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington, Michael Hoey, Simon Thornton, Darren Clarke, Peter LawrieComment

Irish winners and losers in 2013

World RankingsBrian KeoghRory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington, Michael Hoey, Simon Thornton, Darren Clarke, Peter LawrieComment
Irish winners and losers in 2013

Tiger Woods and Graeme McDowell clocked up a lot of world ranking points in 2013 despite disappointing years in the Majors. Photo: Kenneth E.Dennis / kendennisphoto.com / golffile.ie

Graeme McDowell and Simon Thornton were Irish golf’s big winners in the world rankings in 2013 but it was a disappointing year for the other six players who ended the season inside the Top-300 - Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Pádraig Harrington, Michael Hoey, Darren Clarke and Peter Lawrie.

As McDowell’s three wins worldwide saw him improve by one spot to 14th in the world and maiden European Tour winner Thornton leapt 230 spots to 297th, the rest of Ireland’s top players all lost ground.

Padraig Harrington had a poor year. Picture Fran Caffrey / www.golffile.ie

Despite his win in the M2M Russian Open, Hoey’s lack of consistency saw him fall 109 spots to 247th while Lowry failed to make his move into the world’s Top-50, slipping from 52nd at the end of 2012 to 76th this Christmas.

Major winners Harrington and Clarke also continued their freefall with the Dubliner crashing 72 spots from 59th to world No 131 as the Ulsterman slipped 151 places to 296th.

Lawrie’s season from hell also saw him fall a considerable distance from 155th to 300th.

The big success stories of 2013 were players such as Henrik Stenson, Jordan Spieth, Kevin Streelman, Billy Horschel, Hideki Matsuyama, Grahm Delaet, Boo Weekley, Victory Dubuisson and Matt Jones, who all made big moves up the world rankings.

Tiger Woods reclaiming the world No 1 spot and Phil Mickelson returning to the Top-5 were also big moments while Top 50 moves by Spieth, Streelman, Horschel, Matsuyana, Delaet, Jimmy Walker and Joost Luiten from outside the Top-100 were also notable.

The big losers, from a rankings point of view, were the likes of McIlroy, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald, Bubba Watson and Louis Oosthuizen, who all failed to impress.

McIlroy’s fall was the least dramatic amongst the elite as he slipped No 1 to No 6 and in the list of the top ranking points winners of 2013 (see below) he was 27th thanks to his late season win in Australia.

How they actually ranked in 2013 - by world points earned
‘13 Rnk - Actual rnk - (Last wk) - <End ‘12>

  1. 1 (1) <3> Tiger Woods United States 488.254
  2. 3 (3) <53> Henrik Stenson Sweden 484.598
  3. 2 (2) <5> Adam Scott Australia 375.744
  4. 5 (5) <17> Phil Mickelson United States 356.517
  5. 7 (7) <21> Matt Kuchar United States 339.453
  6. 4 (4) <4> Justin Rose England 339.055
  7. 11 (11) <37> Jason Day Australia 259.445
  8. 9 (9) <25> Zach Johnson United States 254.530
  9. 13 (10) <10> Brandt Snedeker United States 241.620
  10. 10 (19) <16> Sergio Garcia Spain 240.821
  11. 14 (12) <15> Graeme McDowell N Ireland 233.347
  12. 8 (8) <18> Steve Stricker United States 231.130
  13. 16 (15) <23> Dustin Johnson United States 218.439
  14. 15 (13) <9> Jason Dufner United States 218.055
  15. 18 (17) <14> Charl Schwartzel South Africa 206.779
  16. 21 (21) <11> Webb Simpson United States 201.589
  17. 20 (20) <13> Keegan Bradley United States 198.425
  18. 12 (14) <12> Ian Poulter England 195.734
  19. 22 (22) <809> Jordan Spieth United States 188.462
  20. 24 (25) <45> Thomas Bjorn Denmark 185.920
  21. 19 (18) <27> Jim Furyk United States 184.424
  22. 29 (29) <35> Bill Haas United States 180.658
  23. 26 (28) <47> Jamie Donaldson Wales 176.749
  24. 31 (31) <26> Hunter Mahan United States 170.321
  25. 44 (44) <225> Kevin Streelman United States 166.619
  26. 41 (43) <312> Billy Horschel United States 166.556
  27. 6 (6) <1> Rory McIlroy N Ireland 159.806
  28. 23 (23) <127> Hideki Matsuyama Japan 157.470
  29. 36 (36) <177> Graham Delaet Canada 157.010
  30. 25 (24) <7> Lee Westwood England 154.906
  31. 17 (16) <2> Luke Donald England 154.640
  32. 27 (27) <24> Ernie Els South Africa 147.379
  33. 35 (35) <33> Gonzalo Fdez-Castano Spain 141.358
  34. 54 (54) <299> Boo Weekley United States 137.882
  35. 33 (33) <40> Ryan Moore United States 137.810
  36. 47 (47) <120> Jimmy Walker United States 136.328
  37. 51 (50) <154> Richard Sterne South Africa 131.232
  38. 32 (32) <132> Victor Dubuisson France 130.204
  39. 53 (55) <140> Harris English United States 126.325
  40. 42 (41) <74> Jonas Blixt Sweden 125.730
  41. 61 (62) <148> D.A. Points United States 124.241
  42. 30 (30) <20> Nick Watney United States 123.066
  43. 46 (46) <80> Thongchai Jaidee Thailand 122.787
  44. 49 (51) <108> Joost Luiten Netherlands 121.921
  45. 45 (45) <46> David Lynn England 121.865
  46. 40 (40) <31> Rickie Fowler United States 121.283
  47. 28 (26) <8> Bubba Watson United States 121.272
  48. 59 (61) <193> Kiradech Aphibarnrat Thailand 118.704
  49. 56 (57) <152> Gary Woodland United States 118.195
  50. 43 (42) <44> Matteo Manassero Italy 117.909
  51. 39 (39) <28> Martin Kaymer Germany 115.511
  52. 64 (66) <267> Angel Cabrera Argentina 114.626
  53. 60 (60) <115> Chris Kirk United States 110.378
  54. 78 (78) <117> Charles Howell-III United States 110.353
  55. 63 (65) <384> Peter Uihlein United States 109.605
  56. 38 (37) <30> Francesco Molinari Italy 109.587
  57. 37 (38) <54> Miguel A Jimenez Spain 108.405
  58. 52 (53) <65> Bernd Wiesberger Austria 105.362
  59. 58 (58) <83> Brendon de Jonge Zimbabwe 103.443
  60. 65 (59) <50> Thorbjorn Olesen Denmark 102.088
  61. 70 (71) <281> Roberto Castro United States 100.564
  62. 81 (80) <260> Chris Stroud United States 99.979
  63. 66 (64) <98> Stephen Gallacher Scotland 99.084
  64. 79 (75) <86> Michael Thompson United States 98.660
  65. 91 (89) <228> John Merrick United States 97.285
  66. 50 (49) <34> Branden Grace South Africa 97.274
  67. 74 (74) <139> Chris Wood England 95.909
  68. 55 (52) <41> Scott Piercy United States 95.397
  69. 75 (79) <217> Brett Rumford Australia 93.314
  70. 62 (63) <116> Kim Hyung-sung Korea 90.041
  71. 88 (90) <459> Matthew Jones Australia 89.514
  72. 89 (86) <131> Russell Henley United States 89.161
  73. 72 (70) <87> Marc Leishman Australia 88.312
  74. 85 (83) <71> Martin Laird Scotland 87.063
  75. 110 (109) <220> Kevin Chappell United States 86.514
  76. 84 (84) <354> Mikko Ilonen Finland 86.063
  77. 115 (115) <237> David Lingmerth Sweden 83.029
  78. 34 (34) <6> Louis Oosthuizen South Africa 82.891
  79. 73 (73) <586> Patrick Reed United States 82.877
  80. 102 (100) <164> Charley Hoffman United States 82.025
  81. 107 (107) <153> Ken Duke United States 81.801
  82. 67 (68) <100> Koumei Oda Japan 80.697
  83. 93 (95) <258> David Howell England 80.603
  84. 71 (72) <94> Ross Fisher England 80.176
  85. 69 (69) <91> Tim Clark South Africa 79.548
  86. 87 (93) <122> Paul Casey England 78.981
  87. 77 (82) <159> Shingo Katayama Japan 78.699
  88. 106 (103) <123> Scott Stallings United States 77.804
  89. 99 (98) <66> John Huh United States 75.893
  90. 118 (117) <276> Tommy Fleetwood England 75.100
  91. 128 (126) <76> Kyle Stanley United States 75.010
  92. 96 (99) <628> Park Sung-Joon Korea 74.823
  93. 68 (67) <36> Nicolas Colsaerts Belgium 73.398
  94. 92 (88) <62> Fredrik Jacobson Sweden 73.385
  95. 158 (157) <303> Brian Gay United States 73.230
  96. 139 (141) <70> Bae Sang-moon Korea 73.082
  97. 82 (81) <114> Luke Guthrie United States 70.982
  98. 100 (104) <163> Gregory Bourdy France 70.887
  99. 101 (102) <85> Pablo Larrazabal Spain 70.631
  100. 114 (116) <182> Marc Warren Scotland 69.966
  101. 124 (124) <150> Darren Fichardt South Africa 69.400
  102. 83 (87) <75> Ryo Ishikawa Japan 68.993
  103. 86 (92) <436> Brooks Koepka United States 68.613
  104. 126 (120) <118> Ryan Palmer United States 68.467
  105. 113 (111) <126> Kevin Stadler United States 68.420
  106. 125 (130) <181> Hennie Otto South Africa 68.403
  107. 90 (85) <60> Marcel Siem Germany 68.169
  108. 144 (144) <146> Jaco Van Zyl South Africa 67.987
  109. 76 (77) <52> Shane Lowry Ireland 67.619
  110. 162 (161) <348> Scott Brown United States 67.261
  111. 104 (110) <190> Liang Wen-chong China 67.103
  112. 103 (106) <1492> Chesson Hadley United States 66.853
  113. 48 (48) <19> Peter Hanson Sweden 66.736
  114. 138 (139) <224> David Hearn Canada 66.658
  115. 119 (118) <364> Morten Orum Madsen Denmark 65.529
  116. 94 (97) <186> Hideto Tanihara Japan 64.926
  117. 164 (162) <242> Felipe Aguilar Chile 64.257
  118. 97 (105) <55> Marcus Fraser Australia 64.176
  119. 98 (91) <49> George Coetzee South Africa 63.855
  120. 136 (136) <232> Daniel Summerhays United States 63.690
  121. 127 (125) <134> Rory Sabbatini South Africa 63.452
  122. 134 (129) <48> K.J. Choi Korea 62.264
  123. 167 (163) <201> Josh Teater United States 62.113
  124. 153 (151) <136> Brian Davis England 61.774
  125. 160 (166) <288> Prayad Marksaeng Thailand 61.343
  126. 161 (159) <236> Jason Kokrak United States 61.253
  127. 123 (135) <262> Scott Hend Australia 60.974
  128. 57 (56) <22> Bo Van Pelt United States 60.593
  129. 80 (76) <39> Robert Garrigus United States 60.288
  130. 133 (127) <125> Matthew Every United States 60.147
  131. 165 (164) <319> Stewart Cink United States 59.929
  132. 112 (113) <101> Scott Jamieson Scotland 59.774
  133. 143 (145) <278> Shiv Kapur India 59.605
  134. 130 (128) <188> Julien Quesne France 59.430
  135. 108 (108) <38> John Senden Australia 59.397
  136. 181 (179) <460> Brian Stuard United States 59.271
  137. 111 (132) <203> Anirban Lahiri India 59.269
  138. 154 (155) <1492> Derek Ernst United States 58.258
  139. 120 (121) <119> Raphael Jacquelin France 58.252
  140. 146 (147) <284> Jason Bohn United States 57.979
  141. 157 (156) <555> Ben Martin United States 57.913
  142. 169 (167) <373> Michael Putnam United States 57.606
  143. 95 (94) <56> Alexander Noren Sweden 55.871
  144. 122 (119) <51> Geoff Ogilvy Australia 54.886
  145. 140 (140) <58> Rafael Cabrera Bello Spain 54.775
  146. 203 (197) <277> Ricardo Santos Portugal 54.612
  147. 131 (123) <59> Padraig Harrington Ireland 54.390
  148. 150 (150) <208> Alejandro Canizares Spain 54.234
  149. 186 (190) <606> Brendon Todd United States 53.995
  150. 159 (154) <113> Thomas Aiken South Africa 52.778
  151. 183 (188) <382> Andrea Pavan Italy 52.617
  152. 198 (193) <169> Cameron Tringale United States 52.543
  153. 184 (183) <205> Brendan Steele United States 51.758
  154. 202 (194) <147> John Rollins United States 51.366
  155. 194 (337) <414> Dawie van der Walt South Africa 50.980
  156. 207 (206) <491> Edward Loar United States 50.633
  157. 116 (112) <93> Danny Willett England 50.314
  158. 168 (165) <470> Simon Khan England 49.913
  159. 129 (133) <170> Wu Ashun China 49.023
  160. 149 (148) <172> Lee Kyoung-Hoon Korea 48.897
  161. 135 (134) <82> Vijay Singh Fiji 48.562
  162. 173 (170) <160> Brian Harman United States 48.532
  163. 221 (220) <340> Justin Leonard United States 48.228
  164. 212 (208) <254> Jerry Kelly United States 47.665
  165. 201 (198) <353> Nicholas Thompson United States 47.637
  166. 132 (131) <124> Yoshinori Fujimoto Japan 47.258
  167. 218 (221) <372> Jeff Maggert United States 47.251
  168. 147 (146) <344> John Peterson United States 46.930
  169. 174 (172) <167> Garth Mulroy South Africa 46.811
  170. 121 (122) <102> Yuta Ikeda Japan 45.832
  171. 155 (158) <141> Brad Kennedy Australia 45.816
  172. 190 (184) <142> Pat Perez United States 45.549
  173. 208 (210) <409> Craig Lee Scotland 45.220
  174. 170 (176) <393> Masahiro Kawamura Japan 44.918
  175. 188 (187) <166> Charlie Beljan United States 44.366
  176. 206 (192) <97> Mark Wilson United States 44.281
  177. 191 (186) <78> Aaron Baddeley Australia 44.105
  178. 196 (204) <290> Justin Walters South Africa 43.951
  179. 187 (185) <196> William McGirt United States 43.432
  180. 171 (169) <63> Simon Dyson England 43.410
  181. 179 (177) <179> J.J. Henry United States 43.050
  182. 172 (189) <168> Romain Wattel France 42.806
  183. 105 (96) <32> Carl Pettersson Sweden 42.573
  184. 231 (234) <332> David Horsey England 42.487
  185. 182 (178) <99> Jeff Overton United States 42.470
  186. 152 (152) <185> Eduardo De la Riva Spain 42.210
  187. 166 (168) <206> Siddikur Rahman Bangladesh 42.046
  188. 185 (181) <64> Greg Chalmers Australia 41.230
  189. 197 (195) <209> Steve Webster England 41.167
  190. 229 (236) <189> Jbe’ Kruger South Africa 41.005
  191. 214 (209) <149> Bryce Molder United States 40.941
  192. 163 (174) <229> Masanori Kobayashi Japan 40.876
  193. 177 (175) <165> Bob Estes United States 40.463
  194. 238 (232) <333> Richard H. Lee United States 40.154
  195. 180 (180) <595> Paul Waring England 40.081
  196. 178 (182) <238> Yusaku Miyazato Japan 40.069
  197. 189 (191) <1492> Daan Huizing Netherlands 39.624
  198. 117 (114) <42> David Toms United States 39.255
  199. 175 (171) <247> Morgan Hoffmann United States 39.222
  200. 262 (259) <338> James Driscoll United States 38.726
  201. 234 (228) <200> Trevor Immelman South Africa 38.360
  202. 251 (251) <483> Andrew Svoboda United States 38.251
  203. 225 (229) <520> Jose-Filipe Lima Portugal 38.240
  204. 151 (149) <72> K.T. Kim Korea 38.056
  205. 195 (202) <1253> Stuart Manley Wales 38.040
  206. 270 (369) <397> Jorge Campillo Spain 37.733
  207. 232 (231) <401> Robert-Jan Derksen Netherlands 37.661
  208. 148 (160) <89> Gaganjeet Bhullar India 37.400
  209. 226 (363) <611> Alexander Levy France 37.366
  210. 109 (101) <29> Paul Lawrie Scotland 37.346
  211. 294 (289) <259> Lucas Glover United States 36.608
  212. 205 (203) <158> Soren Kjeldsen Denmark 36.470
  213. 176 (173) <95> Noh Seung-yul Korea 36.428
  214. 223 (225) <760> Satoshi Kodaira Japan 36.149
  215. 242 (243) <366> Maximilian Kieffer Germany 36.131
  216. 253 (246) <270> Martin Flores United States 35.565
  217. 255 (244) <240> James Hahn United States 35.491
  218. 219 (212) <112> Ted Potter-jr United States 35.482
  219. 257 (252) <356> Adilson da Silva Brazil 35.305
  220. 193 (199) <361> Shunsuke Sonoda Japan 35.287
  221. 236 (223) <81> Ben Crane United States 34.927
  222. 264 (256) <109> Johnson Wagner United States 34.796
  223. 156 (153) <61> Anders Hansen Denmark 34.645
  224. 292 (287) <251> Camilo Villegas Colombia 34.567
  225. 248 (248) <780> Scott Strange Australia 34.509
  226. 280 (278) <233> Gregory Havret France 34.271
  227. 136 (138) <57> Richie Ramsay Scotland 34.090
  228. 245 (242) <328> Russell Knox Scotland 33.771
  229. 200 (201) <392> Marco Crespi Italy 33.735
  230. 220 (222) <187> Tomohiro Kondo Japan 33.728
  231. 199 (205) <255> Kazuhiro Yamashita Japan 33.408
  232. 235 (247) <1416> Nicholas Fung Malaysia 33.240
  233. 210 (235) <416> Baek Seuk-Hyun Korea 32.909
  234. 299 (291) <408> Tjaart Van Der Walt South Africa 32.876
  235. 227 (230) <1492> Johan Carlsson Sweden 32.342
  236. 239 (255) <687> Wade Ormsby Australia 32.338
  237. 209 (213) <487> Roope Kakko Finland 32.284
  238. 213 (218) <271> Michael Hendry New Zealand 32.280
  239. 275 (266) <161> George McNeill United States 32.153
  240. 286 (282) <468> Seve Benson England 32.070
  241. 215 (214) <194> Jang Ik-Jae Korea 32.040
  242. 244 (241) <234> Lee Dong-hwan Korea 31.984
  243. 261 (254) <283> Justin Hicks United States 31.775
  244. 247 (240) <138> Michael Hoey N Ireland 31.744
  245. 282 (294) <454> Kang Sung-hoon Korea 31.615
  246. 222 (216) <135> Andres Romero Argentina 31.579
  247. 142 (142) <69> Thaworn Wiratchant Thailand 31.426
  248. 240 (237) <252> Ricardo Gonzalez Argentina 31.315
  249. 281 (280) <1492> Francois Calmels France 31.221
  250. 272 (270) <376> Stuart Appleby Australia 30.916
  251. 254 (341) <272> Matthew Baldwin England 30.538
  252. 260 (260) <291> S K HO Korea 30.360
  253. 277 (273) <406> Emiliano Grillo Argentina 29.981
  254. 276 (276) <121> Robert Karlsson Sweden 29.803
  255. 211 (217) <162> Prom Meesawat Thailand 29.515
  256. 258 (253) <498> Sihwan Kim Korea 29.514
  257. 243 (239) <311> Patrick Cantlay United States 29.200
  258. 224 (215) <106> Charlie Wi Korea 28.915
  259. 292 (286) <506> Woody Austin United States 28.240
  260. 268 (267) <380> Angelo Que Philippines 28.239
  261. 285 (274) <235> Edoardo Molinari Italy 28.200
  262. 217 (211) <67> Bud Cauley United States 28.145
  263. 249 (258) <1086> Jin Jeong Korea 28.143
  264. 237 (233) <223> JB Hansen Denmark 28.094
  265. 279 (408) <1492> Yuki Kono Japan 27.529
  266. 269 (269) <217> Tetsuji Hiratsuka Japan 27.528
  267. 297 (297) <527> Simon Thornton Ireland 26.600
  268. 256 (249) <322> Eddie Pepperell England 26.566
  269. 230 (226) <157> Ryu Hyun-woo Korea 26.150
  270. 204 (200) <156> Hwang Jung-gon Korea 25.953
  271. 250 (245) <239> Kunihiro Kamii Japan 25.901
  272. 266 (268) <245> Richard Finch England 25.484
  273. 145 (143) <43> Hiroyuki Fujita Japan 25.342
  274. 141 (137) <73> Brendan Jones Australia 25.240
  275. 289 (295) <947> Nacho Elvira Spain 25.219
  276. 290 (279) <256> Trevor Fisher-Jr South Africa 23.085
  277. 288 (277) <199> Shawn Stefani United States 22.477
  278. 263 (262) <287> Nick Cullen Australia 22.240
  279. 228 (224) <103> Toshinori Muto Japan 22.130
  280. 296 (301) <145> Darren Clarke N Ireland 21.932
  281. 278 (272) <90> Alvaro Quiros Spain 21.854
  282. 283 (284) <476> Matthew Griffin Australia 21.579
  283. 271 (264) <180> Magnus A Carlsson Sweden 20.534
  284. 300 (288) <155> Peter Lawrie Ireland 20.471
  285. 267 (261) <129> Tommy Gainey United States 20.334
  286. 265 (263) <183> Troy Matteson United States 19.888
  287. 241 (227) <84> Ben Curtis United States 19.532
  288. 298 (285) <261> Ben Kohles United States 19.504
  289. 274 (275) <111> Juvic Pagunsan Philippines 19.479
  290. 291 (290) <309> Lee Sang-hee Korea 18.866
  291. 192 (196) <88> Fredrik Andersson Hed Sweden 18.632
  292. 284 (302) <293> Antonio Lascuna Philippines 18.217
  293. 252 (265) <268> Arnond Vongvanij Thailand 18.164
  294. 273 (250) <92> Jonathan Byrd United States 17.038
  295. 246 (238) <77> Toru Taniguchi Japan 16.147
  296. 287 (281) <96> Jeev Milkha Singh India 14.830
  297. 233 (219) <68> Kevin Na United States 13.731
  298. 259 (257) <184> Han Lee United States 13.187
  299. 295 (283) <175> Peter Senior Australia 5.730
  300. 216 (207) <79> Kristoffer Broberg Sweden 2.245