Lowry 51st the world as Masters chase goes on
Shane Lowry, world No 51. Picture: Eoin Clarke www.golffile.ie
Shane Lowry moved up three spots to 51st in the world but is still a tantalising 0.12 world ranking points short of 50th ranked John Senden and a place in next year's Masters.
The Offaly ace, who tied for 16th with Graeme McDowell in the BMW Masters on Sunday, must be inside the Top 50 at the end of the year to earn a first trip to Augusta National next April.
He still has three events this season — this week's WGC-HSBC Champions, the Turkish Airlines Open and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai — to make the leap.
Rory McIlroy's lead from Adam Scott at the top of the rankings was reduced slightly to 3.2 world ranking points while McDowell remained at 17th.
BMW Masters winner Marcel Siem jumped 82 spots to 70th with Ross Fisher up 45 places to 85th and Alexander Levy up 15 places to 59th following their defeat to the German in a play-off in Shanghai.
Michael Hoey rose three places to 188th but Padraig Harrington fell another three places to 340th.