Wins by Scott, Stenson tighten world golf rankings

VIRGINIA WATER, England, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson are closing the golf year with flourishes that could lead to a challenge to Tiger Woods as the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world.

Woods has a healthy lead in the rankings and has piled up 657 weeks at No. 1.

But Scott, No. 2, and Stenson, No. 3, have been on hot streaks.

Scott won two straight events in his native Australia, claiming the Australian PGA Championship on Nov. 10 and repeating as titlist at the Talisker Masters Sunday.

Stenson picked up two big trophies Sunday with a six-stroke victory at the DP World Tour Championship that locked up his Race to Dubai victory, which signifies the top golfer of the year on the European Tour.

In September, Stenson won the Deutsche Bank and Tour championships, which gave him the FedEx Cup title. He is the first player to take both the FedEx and Race to Dubai titles in the same year.

Those results have cut into the lead Woods has as No. 1 and created some distance in the rankings ahead of No. 4 Phil Mickelson.

There is one change this week in the Top 10. Matt Kuchar moves ahead of Steve Stricker and into the No. 7 spot. Stricker is pushed to eighth.

Harris English won the PGA Tour's OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico and moves up 14 places in the rankings to No. 54.

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

1. Tiger Woods, United States, 12.34

2. Adam Scott, Australia, 9.78

3. Henrik Stenson, Sweden, 9.01

4. Phil Mickelson, United States, 7.82

5. Justin Rose, England, 7.76

6. Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland, 6.67

7. Matt Kuchar, United States, 6.37

8. Steve Stricker, United States, 6.22

9. Brandt Snedeker, United States, 5.85

10. Jason Dufner, United States, 5.48