Gonzo knocks Tiger out of world top 50

Tiger Woods may have lifted the United States to an unassailable 19-15 victory at the Presidents Cup, yet his return to the world’s top 50 lasted just one week.

With Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano finishing in the runner-up spot at the Dunlop Phoenix on the Japanese Tour, it means the 14-time major champion falls back to World No.51, while the Spaniard moves up to 46th.

But despite his latest slip, Woods will take great pride in the way he bounced back from the worst matchplay defeat of his career on the opening day (a 7&6 defeat with Steve Stricker to Adam Scott and KJ Choi) with a 4&3 demolition of Aaron Baddeley in the singles.

Elsewhere, Iskandar Johor Open champion Joost Luiten vaulted up 27 spots to 66th while Garth Mulroy moved up 98 places to 183rd from 281st.

Latest World Rankings

1 Luke Donald 10.37pts
2 Rory McIlroy 7.59
3 Lee Westwood 7.50
4 Martin Kaymer 7.02
5 Steve Stricker 5.80
6 Dustin Johnson 5.79
7 Adam Scott 5.61
8 Jason Day 5.50
9 Webb Simpson 5.22
10 Matt Kuchar 5.06
11 Nick Watney 5.05
12 Phil Mickelson 4.98
13 Charl Schwartzel 4.74
14 Graeme McDowell 4.62
15 KJ Choi 4.57
16 Justin Rose 4.24
17 Sergio Garcia 4.08
18 Bubba Watson 3.97
19 Hunter Mahan 3.88
20 David Toms 3.77

Other leading Europeans: 21 Paul Casey, 25 Ian Poulter, 28 Robert Karlsson, 31 Anders Hansen, 32 Simon Dyson, 33 Thomas Bjorn, 34 Fredrik Jacobson, 36 Darren Clarke, 39 Francesco Molinari, 40 Miguel Angel Jimenez, 42 Martin Laird, 46 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, 47 Alvaro Quiros, 54 Peter Hanson, 56 Matteo Manassero, 61 Edoardo Molinari, 63 Alexander Noren, 75 Nicolas Colsaerts, 80 Padraig Harrington, 83 Jamie Donaldson, 84 Pablo Larrazabal, 87 Ross Fisher, 96 David Lynn, 98 Fredrik Andersson Hed, 100 Raphael Jacquelin

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