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Westwood retakes No. 2 golf ranking

Lee Westwood, shown in an August 2011 file photo, has moved past Rory McIlroy and into the No. 2 spot in the men's world golf rankings, which were updated Monday. UPI/Brian Kersey
Lee Westwood, shown in an August 2011 file photo, has moved past Rory McIlroy and into the No. 2 spot in the men's world golf rankings, which were updated Monday. UPI/Brian Kersey | License Photo

VIRGINIA WATER, England, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Lee Westwood's runner-up finish at the Dubai Desert Classic lifts him past Rory McIlroy into the No. 2 spot in the men's world golf rankings behind Luke Donald.

Westwood finished tied for second in the European Tour event in Dubai, with Rafael Cabrera-Bello winning by one stroke. McIlroy wound up tied for fifth after sharing the tournament lead after two rounds.

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Cabrera-Bello jumps from 119th to No. 60 in the rankings, which were updated Monday.

Phil Mickelson won the PGA's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and goes from 17th to No. 11 in the rankings.

Donald, now with a rankings points average of 9.423, has held the top spot for 37 weeks. Only six players have been No. 1 more weeks.

Westwood now averages 7.930, barely ahead of McIlroy's 7.925. Martin Kaymer (6.077) is fourth and Steve Stricker (5.770) remains fifth.

Webb Simpson has an average of 5.237 and is sixth ahead of No. 7 Jason Day (5.194) and eighth-ranked Adam Scott (5.094). Charl Schwartzel (4.932) remains ninth and Dustin Johnson (4.844) completes the Top 10.

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