Donald, Westwood 1 & 2 in Final 2011 World Rankings


Lee Westwood's seven-stroke triumph in Sunday's Thailand Golf Championship moved the former third-ranked player in the world up to No. 2 behind Luke Donald. Already named the PGA Tour's Player of the Year, Donald - who won unprecedented money titles on both tours -received the same award on the European Tour four days ago.

Donald should be ensconced in the top spot for awhile. As the 2011 season came to a close the 34-year-old has a points' average of 10.03 points, while fellow Brit Westwood is at 8.06.

Westwood supplanted U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy (7.77) in the second spot, with the young Northern Irishman in third, Germany's Martin Kaymer (6.55) fourth and Australian Adam Scott (5.50) rounding out the top-five.

In sixth is the top American is Steve Stricker (5.33). The Wisconsin native is followed by fellow Yank Dustin Johnson (5.27), Aussie Jason Day (5.07), South African Charl Schwartzel (5.06) and North Carolina's Webb Simpson (5.03) in the year-end top-10.

Westwood, a former No. 1, said his runaway win in Thailand - aided by a 12-under 60 and a 64 in the first two rounds - gives him a significant confidence boost heading into next year. "I'm going to continue to work on my fitness and all aspects of my game," said the 38-year-old.

"I'm going in the right direction, I can see a lot of improvement and I'm happy with the way I've finished the year, I've won two out of my last three events. I'll go into the winter with a lot of confidence and I'll try to come out next year playing the same kind of golf as I played this week, a little bit leaner and well rested."

Ian Poulter's victory last weekend at the Australian Masters - in which Donald finished tied for 12th, 11 shots back - moved him into the top-20. Poulter, also a Brit, began last week at No. 28 but with the win Down Under jumped to 16th.

"To do this in a Ryder Cup year and move inside the top-20 on the world rankings means a heck of a lot," Poulter said on Sunday at Victoria Golf Club in Melbourne.

England boasts five players in the top-20; the others include Justin Rose (No. 18) and Paul Casey (20th).

For the full year-end rankings, visit http://www.officialworldgolfranking.com/rankings/default.sps.