Golf:Hunter Mahan, who denied Rory McIlroy the world number one spot after beating the Ulsterman in WGC World Match Play final last night, the has climbed from 22nd to ninth in the world. It is the American's first time in the top 10.
Mahan beat McIlroy 2&1 in Arizona, a result which prevented him climbing above Luke Donald to the top of the rankings. The American, however, feels it is only a matter of time before the 22-year-old climbs to the summit.
"He'll get there," said the Ryder Cup star. "He's phenomenal, he's really talented. He'll be number one eventually." On his victory - his second at World Championship level - Mahan added: "It feels good. I didn't realise how difficult it is to win this week because it is six matches and you're playing against the best players in the world."
McIlroy played the last seven holes of the final in five under par with an eagle and three birdies, but that all came after he had three bogeys and a double-bogey in a front-nine 39. "I just left myself too much to do," said the US Open champion, whose next chance to dethrone Donald comes in this week's Honda Classic in Florida.
"It wasn't to be, but I didn't have my best game with me this week."
Latest leading positions in the world golf rankings:1 Luke Donald 9.13pts, 2 Rory McIlroy8.60, 3 Lee Westwood 8.17, 4 Martin Kaymer 6.02, 5 Steve Stricker 5.80, 6 Webb Simpson 5.14, 7 Dustin Johnson 5.11, 8 Adam Scott 5.05, 9 Hunter Mahan 5.03, 10 Jason Day 5.01 11 Phil Mickelson 4.96, 12 Charl Schwartzel 4.87, 13 Bill Haas 4.67, 14 Matt Kuchar 4.56, 15 Graeme McDowell4.36, 16 Nick Watney 4.35, 17 Sergio Garcia 4.14, 18 Brandt Snedeker 4.12, 19 KJ Choi 4.08, 20 Keegan Bradley 4.00
Other leading Europeans:23 Justin Rose, 25 Paul Casey, 26 Peter Hanson, 27 Ian Poulter, 29 Thomas Bjorn, 31 Simon Dyson, 32 Alvaro Quiros, 34 Robert Karlsson, 35 Martin Laird, 37 Anders Hansen, 41 Fredrik Jacobson, 44 Paul Lawrie, 45 Francesco Molinari, 50 Miguel Angel Jimenez, 51 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, 56 Darren Clarke,57 Robert Rock, 61 Rafael Cabrera Bello, 63 Matteo Manassero, 68 Nicolas Colsaerts, 70 Joost Luiten, 75 Alexander Noren, 83 Pablo Larrazabal, 85 Edoardo Molinari, 87 Padraig Harrington,88 Carl Pettersson, 90 Gregory Havret, 91 David Lynn, 94 Michael Hoey,95 Jamie Donaldson, 100 Stephen Gallacher.
