World Rankings
Another gong for McIlroy as Clarke claims best finish of trying season
Rory McIlroy crowned a magnificent year when he was voted RTÉ Sports Person of the Year for 2014 last night. But it was also a positive day in many respects for Darren Clarke as he notched his best finish of a trying season in Dubai.
Irish winners and losers in 2013
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.
Only Els, Mickelson, Furyk, Woods and Garcia ahead of Harrington
Sergio Garica, pictured with Padraig Harrington after the third round of The Open at Muirfileld this year, will beat the Dubliner’s Top-100 run later this year. Picture Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ie:Padraig Harrington fell another four places to 105th in the latest Official World Golf Rankings.Stenson up to world No 4, McIlroy falls two spots to No 6
Henrik Stenson is the new world No 4 at the expense of Rory McIlroy. Henrik Stenson made Rory McIlroy’s nightmare 2013 season look at little worse on Sunday when he claimed the Tour Championship, the $10m FedEx Cup bonus and moved to No 4 in the Official World Golf Ranking, pushing the Holywood star down to sixth.McIlroy contractually obliged to miss World Cup?
Shane Lowry and Graeme McDowell during a practice round for The Open at Murifield. Picture Fran Caffrey www.golffile.ieContractual reasons are being touted as the reason for Rory McIlroy’s absence from the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf, giving Shane Lowry the chance to pick up some precious world ranking points when he partners Graeme McDowell at Royal Melbourne in November.