Walker rises to 45th in OWGR; Koepka 81st

By
Ryan Lavner,

By
Ryan Lavner

Published October 14, 2013 12:28 PM

Thumbnail — MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 20: U.S. Team captain Fred Couples celebrates with his team during the closing ceremonies after defeating the International team 19-15 at the 2011 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Course on November 20, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

After 188 starts, Jimmy Walker is finally a PGA Tour winner.

He’s also a top-50 player in the world.

Walker, who came from behind to win the Frys.com Open on Sunday, rose from 66^th to 45^th in the latest world rankings, released Monday. His previous-best ranking was 59^th, after this year’s Players.

Walker ended last year at No. 120 in the world, but he had five top-10 finishes in 2013, including a T-2 at the Greenbrier, to steadily climb in the rankings.

Overseas, David Lynn closed with an 8-under 63 at the Portugal Masters to capture his first European Tour title in more than nine years. The Englishman jumped from 52^nd to 34^th in the rankings.

Even though Brooks Koepka couldn’t convert a 54-hole lead into victory, the former Florida State All-American still continued his meteoric rise in the OWGR, ascending from 100^th to 81^st after his T-3 at CordeValle. He ended last year at No. 436.

Meanwhile, the top 10 in the world remained unchanged from a week ago: world No. 1 Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Steve Stricker, Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker and Jason Dufner.