Fitzpatrick jumps to No.10 in world ranking
LOS ANGELES: Matt Fitzpatrick’s first career major title on Sunday corresponded with a boost to a career-high world ranking on Monday.
The Englishman’s victory at the US Open bumped him up eight spots to No.10 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
The 27-year-old posted a sixunder-par 274 at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, which was the same course where he won the 2013 US Amateur. Fitzpatrick beat Will Zalatoris of and world No.1 Scottie Scheffler by one shot.
The breakthrough came after Fitzpatrick tied for fifth at last month’s PGA Championship and had six other top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season. He began the calendar year No.24 in the world.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland moved up a place to displace Jon Rahm of Spain at the No.2 spot.
Though he remains without a major title since 2014, McIlroy had another strong showing at the US Open and used a final-round 69 to tie for fifth.
Rahm is now No.3 after shooting a final-round 74 on Sunday to finish joint 12th.
It’s McIlroy’s first week ranked in the top two since July 2020, which was the same month his most recent stint as world No.1 ended. He slipped as far as No.16 last year.
Collin Morikawa tied with McIlroy at the US Open and managed to jump three spots, from No.7 in the world to No.4. Justin Thomas remained fifth.
In finishing second at a major for the third time in his young career, Zalatoris also moved up two spots in the OWGR and achieved a career high of No.12. Zalatoris is still in search of his first PGA Tour victory.
Zalatoris has withdrawn from this week’s Travelers Championship, the PGA Tour said.
Two other beneficiaries of the increased OWGR points on offer at the US Open were Adam Hadwin and Denny McCarthy, who were part of a tie for seventh.
Hadwin jumped from No.105 to No.81, while McCarthy soared from No.121 to No. 93.