Casey hits individual high
Paul Casey's victory in the Abu Dhabi Championship has lifted him only one place in the world rankings - but it is a very significant move.
By edging up to 13th Casey has achieved his highest position and as he plays in Qatar this week before facing number one Tiger Woods in Dubai next week the 29-year-old, voted Europe's player of the year for 2006, is obviously looking to keep on climbing.
Justin Rose's third place at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in California was not what he was hoping for after leading the event for so long - by five shots at one point on Saturday - but it could well have earned him a return to the Masters in April.
By finishing last season 51st in the world Rose missed out on an Augusta spot by 0.01 points to Welshman Bradley Dredge, but anyone in the top 50 the week before the tournament will receive a call-up and the 26-year-old's performance sees him go from 51st to 36th.
Rose was still tied for the lead with one to play but only parred the par five while Americans Charley Hoffman and John Rollins had an eagle and birdie respectively to go into a play-off.
Hoffman won it with a birdie at the first extra hole and, having started the week 197th in the world, he is now 92nd.
There were gusts of 40mph on the final day and a disappointed Rose, who closed with a four over 76, commented: "I think it was a bit of a shame really because it was survival more than anything. I don't think there was much great golf being played out there."
Latest leading positions: 1 Tiger Woods 19.60pts, 2 Jim Furyk 8.69, 3 Adam Scott 7.56, 4 Phil Mickelson 6.30, 5 Ernie Els 5.92, 6 Vijay Singh 5.83, 7 Luke Donald 5.61, 8 Retief Goosen 5.56, 9 Padraig Harrington 5.46, 10 Geoff Ogilvy 5.26, 11 Sergio Garcia 4.87, 12 Trevor Immelman 4.65, 13 Paul Casey 4.61, 14 Henrik Stenson 4.45, 15 David Howell 3.65, 16 Davis Love 3.57, 17 David Toms 3.37, 18 Colin Montgomerie 3.34, 19 Jose Maria Olazabal 3.30, 20 Chris DiMarco 3.28.
