McDowell ends dream year as World No 6
Graeme McDowell finished 2010 ranked sixth in the world. Ireland has seven players in the top 125US Open champion and Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell today officially ended his dream season by rising one place to sixth in the final Official World Ranking for 2010 - an improvement of 33 places over the past 12 months.
Padraig Harrington, fifth at the end of last year and as high as third following his US PGA triumph in 2008, fell 18 places to 23rd in the world this season.
Ireland has seven players inside the top 125 with Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie making the biggest moves over the past 12 months.
Kells native McGrane rose 54 places to 125th with former “Rookie of the Year” Lawrie up 53 spots to a career best 106th. Ulstermen Darren Clarke (98th) and Gareth Maybin (110th) also improved but there were significant drops for Shane Lowry, Michael Hoey and Paul McGinley.
Lee Westwood finished the year as No 1 ahead of Tiger Woods with Martin Kaymer, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, McDowell, Steve Stricker, Paul Casey, Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy completing the top 10.
Rank - (End 2009) - Change - Points gained
6 (39) Graeme McDowell Up 33 331.482
10 (9) Rory McIlroy Down 1 266.040
23 (5) Padraig Harrington Down 18 144.521
98 (113) Darren Clarke Up 15 74.051
106 (159) Peter Lawrie Up 53 72.018
110 (124) Gareth Maybin Up 14 61.144
125 (179) Damien McGrane Up 54 67.911
161 (135) Shane Lowry Down 26 47.547
361 (246) Michael Hoey Down 115 23.370
448 (222) Paul McGinley Down 226 09.760
Other Irish:
501 Simon Thornton
512 Colm Moriarty
830 Gary Murphy
951 Jonathan Caldwell
960 Michael McGeady
1322 All others.