Kuchar reaches golf's Top 10

VIRGINIA WATER, England, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- Matt Kuchar took The Barclays tournament in a playoff and moved into the Top 10 in the world men's gold rankings released Monday.

Kuchar defeated Martin Laird in the playoff and advanced from 23rd in the world to No. 10. Laird jumped from 120th to 61st.

The Barclays is the first event of the so-called PGA playoffs, in which the top players could be expected to shine but --not counting Kuchar, who wasn't in the rankings' first tier before the tournament -- only one player among golf's elite managed a Top 10 finish. That was Steve Stricker, who tied for third and retained his No. 4 ranking.

The top seven ranking spots were unchanged this week. Tiger Woods is No. 1 for the 615th week of his career, Phil Mickelson is second and Lee Westwood third. After Stricker is No. 5 Martin Kaymer and Jim Furyk is sixth, ahead of Rory McIlroy.

Paul Casey moved from ninth to eighth, switching places with Ernie Els. Kuchar's entry into the Top 10 pushed Luke Donald to 11th.