Sergio Garcia's play-off victory over Oliver Wilson at the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai has made him the first European to hold the world number two spot since Colin Montgomerie 12 years ago.
Garcia relegated Phil Mickelson to third in the rankings after making birdie on the final green to tie with Wilson and then repeating it on the second extra hole.
Wilson suffered his fifth runner-up finish of 2008 and eighth in all. He has yet to win, but by climbing to 42nd in the world the Mansfield golfer is back on course for a Masters debut at Augusta next April.
At the end of the year the game's top 50 all earn exemptions into the first major of next season.
Latest leading positions:
1 Tiger Woods 14.10pts, 2 Sergio Garcia 8.68, 3 Phil Mickelson 8.15, 4 Vijay Singh 7.54, 5 Padraig Harrington 7.27, 6 Robert Karlsson 5.32, 7 Camilo Villegas 5.29, 8 Lee Westwood 4.91, 9 Anthony Kim 4.90, 10 Henrik Stenson 4.88, 11 Ernie Els 4.86, 12 Jim Furyk 4.86, 13 Steve Stricker 4.54, 14 Stewart Cink 4.40, 15 Geoff Ogilvy 4.36, 16 KJ Choi 4.34, 17 Adam Scott 4.33, 18 Justin Rose 4.10, 19 Kenny Perry 3.96, 20 Miguel Angel Jimenez 3.75
Other leading Europeans:
25 Ian Poulter, 26 Luke Donald, 27 Martin Kaymer, 33 Graeme McDowell, 34 Ross Fisher, 37 Paul Casey, 42 Oliver Wilson, 44 Soren Hansen, 47 Soren Kjeldsen, 49 Peter Hanson, 53 Carl Pettersson, 56 Fredrik Jacobson, 61 Darren Clarke, 70 Anders Hansen, 73 Nick Dougherty, 77 Alvaro Quiros, 79 Peter Hedblom, 80 Rory McIlroy, 82 Niclas Fasth, 88 Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, 95 Paul McGinley, 99 Gregory Havret
GARCIA CONTINUES RANKINGS CLIMB
Former Bronco Wilson loses grievance vs. team
GARCIA EDGES OUT WILSON IN SHANGHAI
Bills’ Edwards practices, expects to play Sunday
