Kuchar enters golf Top 10

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VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 14 (UPI) -- Matt Kuchar's two-stroke victory at the Players Championship shoved him up 11 spots and into the Top 10 of the world men's golf rankings.

Kuchar finished ahead of Ben Curtis, Rickie Fowler, Zach Johnson and Martin Laird in Sunday's final round at TPC Sawgrass. It was his fourth career title and included a check for $1.71 million.

Kuchar goes from 16th to No. 5 in the rankings. The only other player in the Top 20 to improve his ranking was Fowler, who backed his May 6 Wells Fargo Championship title with his runner-up finish Sunday. He is 18th after being ranked 47th two weeks ago.

The top four in the rankings remain unchanged. Rory McIlroy, with a rankings points average of 9.652, is in first just ahead of Luke Donald (9.518). Lee Westwood is third at 8.265 and Bubba Watson comes in fourth at 6.523.

Kuchar has an average of 6.523 while Hunter Mahan is down one place to sixth at 5.595 and Tiger Woods (5.290) remains seventh. Steve Stricker (5.295) falls from sixth to eighth and Martin Kaymer (5.234) is down one place to No. 9. Phil Mickelson (5.162) is still 10th. Webb Simpson (5.098) drops from ninth to No. 11.

Ricardo Santos claimed the Madeira Islands Open in his home country of Portugal and improved his ranking 114 spots to No. 192. It was his first European Tour victory.