LONDON, March 26, 2012 (AFP) - Tiger Woods has climbed to sixth in the world rankings on the back of his win Sunday in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida.
The win snapped a 30-month long title drought and set up the American nicely for the year's first major, the Masters tournament, which starts at Augusta National on April 5.
Woods last topped the rankings in October, 2010 when he was unseated by England's Lee Westwood and he subsequently tumbled out of the world top 50 as he struggled with the breakup of his marriage and leg injuries.
But he has been steadily climbing back up and he is now the second ranking American just behind Steve Stricker.
World top 20:
1. Luke Donald (ENG) 9.87pts
2. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 9.72
3. Lee Westwood (ENG) 8.02
4. Martin Kaymer (GER) 5.76
5. Steve Stricker (USA) 5.71
6. Tiger Woods (USA) 5.60
7. Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 5.17
8. Justin Rose (ENG) 5.13
9. Webb Simpson (USA) 5.10
10. Adam Scott (AUS) 4.96
11. Jason Day (AUS) 4.95
12. Dustin Johnson (USA) 4.91
13. Graeme McDowell (NIR) 4.90
14. Hunter Mahan (USA) 4.86
15. Phil Mickelson (USA) 4.68
16. Bill Haas (USA) 4.56
17. Matt Kuchar (USA) 4.55
18. Bubba Watson (USA) 4.54
19. Nick Watney (USA) 4.18
20. Keegan Bradley (USA) 4.11