Already in the top 10 for the first time in his career, Zach Johnson improved from No. 9 to No. 7 in the latest world rankings after another big-time victory at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
The win on Maui was his third victory in his last six starts, all of which came after trailing through 54 holes. In the rankings, the perennially underrated Johnson sits less than a tenth of a point behind former world No. 1 Rory McIlroy.
Jordan Spieth jumped five spots, to No. 17, in the rankings after his fourth career runner-up finish on Tour – an incredible stat, for the 20-year-old has made just 25 starts in his pro career.
Other minor movements included Jason Dufner, whose fifth-place finish at Kapalua pushed him from No. 15 to No. 13; Kevin Streelman, whose T-3 moved him from No. 44 to No. 36; and Harris English, the Mayakoba winner, who cracked the top 50 and is now No. 48.
The rest of the top 10 in the world heading into the Sony Open, the first full-field event of 2014: Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Phil Mickelson, Mcllroy, Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Steve Stricker and Sergio Garcia.