Branden Grace and Rickie Fowler were the big movers in the latest world rankings, with the Nedbank Golf Challenge winner moving up 15 places.
What we learnt from the 2017 NGC
Grace ended a 10-year wait for a home win on Sunday as he edged clear of Scott Jamieson and Victor Dubuisson to claim the title at Sun City, and in the process made a big move up the rankings.
WATCH: Grace wins NGC, breaks drought
The 29-year-old Fancourt star had not won since RBC Heritage last year, and was in something of a rankings decline until his triumph in front of a packed gallery at the Gary Player Country Club. Grace is now the second-highest ranked South African after Louis Oosthuizen, who finished T8 alongside Matthew Fitzpatrick on four-under-par. Oosthuizen moved up one spot to 22, with Grace in 29th, his highest ranking since the US Open.
Schwartzel remains in 33rd place, with Dylan Frittelli dropping down two spots to 78th. Darren Fichardt was another big mover as he climbed 49 places to 185 after finishing T6 at the NGC.
Despite failing to win in Mexico, Rickie Fowler’s consistency was rewarded with a three-place move to seventh at the top of the standings. Fowler produced a late rally, but it was not enough to get past Patton Kizzire. Fowler’s 67 saw him finish as runner-up for the 12th time in his career, and three times in his last 11 starts.
There was no change in the top 6, with Brooks Koepka the man falling down to make way for Fowler.
Top 10 South African rankings:
Louis Oosthuizen – 22
Branden Grace – 29
Charl Schwartzel – 33
Dylan Fritelli – 78
George Coetzee – 124
Richard Sterne – 130
Brandon Stone– 156
Dean Burmester – 161
Haydn Porteous – 178
Erik Van Rooyen – 182
Photo: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
