Victorious duo climb rankings

Last updated: 20th December 2012

Victories for Charl Schwartzel and Sergio Garcia have seen them end the year 14th and 16th in the world rankings respectively.

Schwartzel, who started the final round as overwhelming favourite with bookmakers Paddy Power, secured a stunning 12-shot win in the European Tour's Alfred Dunhill Championship on Sunday, shortly after Garcia shot a final-round 61 to take the Iskandar Johor Open on the Asian Tour by three shots.

Only last week the South African recorded another massive win by 11 strokes at the Thailand Golf Championship, ensuring he started this week heavily backed by people who like to bet on golf.

Garcia's victory means that eight of Europe's Ryder Cup side in Chicago have now lifted trophies since that memorable week in September.

Rory McIlroy will finish the year as the world's best player, almost a full five points ahead of second placed Luke Donald.

Tiger Woods follows just behind the Englishman, while Justin Rose ends the year in a career-high fourth place, ahead of Australian Adam Scott in fifth.

Dane Thorbjorn Olesen held on to 50th spot by 0.01 ranking points from Australian Geoff Ogilvy, earning himself a US Masters debut next April by the narrowest of margins.

Paul Lawrie, Jamie Donaldson, Nicolas Colsaerts, Francesco Molinari, Matteo Manassero, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Thomas Bjorn have also now qualified for Augusta through the top 50.

Final 2012 positions in the world golf rankings (end of 2011 positions in brackets)

1 (3) Rory McIlroy 13.22pts

2 (1) Luke Donald 8.62

3 (23) Tiger Woods 8.53

4 (18) Justin Rose 6.42

5 (5) Adam Scott 6.21

6 (40) Louis Oosthuizen 6.14

7 (2) Lee Westwood 6.03

8 (21) Bubba Watson 5.30

9 (33) Jason Dufner 5.29

10 (38) Brandt Snedeker 5.23

11 (10) Webb Simpson 5.13

12 (16) Ian Poulter 5.00

13 (31) Keegan Bradley 5.00

14 (9) Charl Schwartzel 4.90

15 (13) Graeme McDowell 4.81

16 (17) Sergio Garcia 4.74

17 (14) Phil Mickelson 4.69

18 (6) Steve Stricker 4.65

19 (42) Peter Hanson 4.59

20 (12) Nick Watney 4.54

Other leading Europeans

28 (4) Martin Kaymer

29 (83) Paul Lawrie

30 (41) Francesco Molinari

32 (110) Carl Pettersson

33 (49) Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano

36 (72) Nicolas Colsaerts

44 (58) Matteo Manassero

45 (35) Thomas Bjorn

46 (91) David Lynn

47 (86) Jamie Donaldson

50 (163) Thorbjorn Olesen

52 (119) Shane Lowry

53 (207) Henrik Stenson

54 (44) Miguel Angel Jimenez

56 (66) Alexander Noren

57 (103) Richie Ramsay

58 (118) Rafael Cabrera Bello

59 (85) Padraig Harrington

60 (253) Marcel Siem

61 (34) Anders Hansen

62 (39) Fredrik Jacobson

63 (28) Simon Dyson

65 (162) Bernd Wiesberger

71 (47) Martin Laird

74 (226) Jonas Blixt

79 (1401) Kristoffer Broberg

85 (77) Pablo Larrazabal

88 (101) Fredrik Andersson Hed

90 (22) Alvaro Quiros

93 (190) Danny Willett

94 (100) Ross Fisher

98 (142) Stephen Gallacher