McIlroy passes Rose in world golf rankings

VIRGINIA WATER, England, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Rory McIlroy moves up a spot to fourth, displacing Justin Rose in the only change Monday in the Top 10 of the men's world golf rankings.

McIlroy, who ended last year as the No. 1-ranked golfer, has a ranking points average of 7.86 while Rose's average is 7.77, very close as the PGA Tour heads into the BMW Championship this week.

McIlroy is the defending BMW champion but needs a good week to qualify as one of the 30 players invited to the Sept. 19-22 Tour Championship. Rose is considered a likely bet to advance to the year's final PGA event.

The McIlroy-Rose shift is the only change in the golf Top 10. Tiger Woods marks his 648th week overall as the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world with Adam Scott second and Phil Mickelson third.

Thomas Bjorn won the Omega European Masters on the European Tour and goes from No. 66 to 44th in the rankings. It was his 20th professional title, 14 of which have come on the European Tour. He also on the European Masters in 2011, which had been his most recent championship until Sunday.

The men's world golf Top 10 listing player's name, home country and ranking points average:

1. Tiger Woods, United States, 13.98

2. Adam Scott, Australia, 9.48

3. Phil Mickelson, United States, 8.68

4. Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland, 7.86

5. Justin Rose, England, 7.77

6. Henrik Stenson, Sweden, 7.11

7. Matt Kuchar, United States, 6.84

8. Brandt Snedeker, United States, 6.29

9. Jason Dufner, United States, 6.04

10. Steve Stricker, United States, 5.87