Phil Mickelson is now only 0.52 points behind fellow American Tiger Woods at the top of the world rankings.
Mickelson has never been number one but the left-hander's victory at the WGC-CA Championship in Florida, his second win in four weeks and the first World Championship success of his career, has lifted him back above Sergio Garcia into second place.
It was Garcia who had a chance to overtake Woods last week, but the 29-year-old Spaniard finished down in 31st spot.
Not that victory would have done it for Garcia in any case. Woods needed to finish 27th or worse, but tied for ninth.
With all three now taking time off, the battle for the top spot goes to next week's Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill - and two weeks after that comes The Masters at Augusta.
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