Louis Oosthuizen has moved up to 20th in the world after finishing as a runner-up at this past weekend’s PGA Championship.

Oosthuizen headed into the Kiawah Island showdown as the 31st-ranked golfer in the world but managed a pretty successful week securing a share of second spot as Phil Mickelson sealed his sixth Major victory.

It was the fifth time in Oosthuizen’s career that he finished as a runner-up in a Major and the second time at the PGA Championship.

Nonetheless, the outcome presented the 38-year-old with some impressive gains in the Official World Golf Rankings as he strengthened his grip once again as the top-ranked South African golfer in the world.

Despite falling short at the final hurdle, Oosthuizen managed to bag $1.056 million (R14.7m) in prize money for his efforts.

Mickelson, who in the process became the oldest player ever to win a Major, took home a whopping $2.1m (R29m) for his victory.

There were also further gains in the rankings for Branden Grace and Dean Burmester, who both managed to make the cut at the Ocean Course.

Grace climbed from 92nd in the world to 90th at the start of the new week, while Burmester improved his presence in the top 100 by moving to 88th.

Grace finished in T38 at the PGA Championship and received $42,000 (R585,513) in earnings, while Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who finished 30th, the second best by a South African player, took home $59,750 (R832,962).