Career-high ranking for Donaldson

Last updated: 21st January 2013

Jamie Donaldson is at a career-high 29th in the world after his spectacular win at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

The Welshman, who last year won his maiden title at the Irish Open after more than a decade without a victory, rose up 18 places to move into the world's top 30.

Abu Dhabi runners-up Justin Rose and Thorbjorn Olesen, both of whom missed birdie chances to force a play-off, stand fourth and 42nd in the rankings respectively.

American Brian Gay, whose closing 63 brought him victory at the Humana Challenge in California after a play-off with compatriot Charles Howell and Swede David Lingmerth, leaps from 296th to 116th in the new rankings.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods stay first and second despite both missing the cut in the Middle East.

Latest leading positions in the world golf rankings:

1 Rory McIlroy 12.37pts

2 Tiger Woods 8.16

3 Luke Donald 8.11

4 Justin Rose 6.65

5 Louis Oosthuizen 6.64

6 Adam Scott 6.19

7 Lee Westwood 5.69

8 Brandt Snedeker 5.35

9 Bubba Watson 5.25

10 Steve Stricker 5.15

11 Jason Dufner 5.12

12 Keegan Bradley 4.99

13 Ian Poulter 4.95

14 Dustin Johnson 4.93

15 Webb Simpson 4.78

16 Charl Schwartzel 4.69

17 Graeme McDowell 4.62

18 Peter Hanson 4.54

19 Sergio Garcia 4.50

20 Matt Kuchar 4.42

Other leading Europeans:

28 Martin Kaymer

29 Jamie Donaldson

31 Paul Lawrie

32 Carl Pettersson

33 Francesco Molinari

35 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano

36 Nicolas Colsaerts

42 Thorbjorn Olesen

43 Matteo Manassero

47 Thomas Bjorn

49 David Lynn

50 Padraig Harrington

52 Henrik Stenson

53 Richie Ramsay

54 Rafael Cabrera Bello

59 Shane Lowry

60 Marcel Siem

61 Alexander Noren

63 Miguel Angel Jimenez

64 Bernd Wiesberger

65 Anders Hansen

69 Fredrik Jacobson

72 Scott Jamieson

73 Simon Dyson

78 Jonas Blixt

79 Martin Laird

81 Kristoffer Broberg

82 Danny Willett

89 Pablo Larrazabal

96 Joost Luiten

97 Fredrik Andersson Hed