The Rise and Fall of 2021: Who went up and who went down in the world rankings this year
With the final significant action of the year behind us, who in the golf world climbed ladders and who slipped down snakes?
A year when Jon Rahm and Viktor Hovland mostly flew the flag for Europe.
And a year when Hideki Matsuyama broke Japan's Major Championship duck.
"Their dreams are no longer just dreams."
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 11, 2021
A visit to a Tokyo driving range shows how Hideki Matsuyama's Masters win inspired a nation. 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/NePuwIUcFb
Going up
The biggest mover into the top 50, gaining 143 spots from 154th to 11th off the back of two PGA Tour wins and play-off defeat in the World Golf Championship St Jude Invitational.
The young American had ended 2020 in fine form and he maintained that in early 2021 to confirm a leap from 59th to 34th.
He started the year in 31st and ended it in 12th. Moreover, he finished fifth at the WGC Workday Championship, runner-up in the WGC Dell Technologies Match Play, T18th at the Masters, and then top 10 in the other three Majors.
BEST way to finish the round! 😤🦅 @usopengolf#USOpen pic.twitter.com/Jf2Qc1S4zO
— Louis Oosthuizen (@Louis57TM) June 20, 2021
Others to note
Viktor Hovland made an assured move into the top 10 (eighth from 14th) and Collin Morikawa very nearly landed top spot (second from seventh).
Three youngsters thrived lower down. The Aussie pair of Min Woo Lee (172nd to 49th) and Lucas Herbert (70th to 41st), plus Japan's Takumi Kanaya (123rd to 50th).
And will the Americans Max Homa (100th to 35th) and Talor Gooch (81st to 32nd) maintain their progress? Homa, notably, has landed two of his three career wins on Major Championship standard courses.
On the rise ⬆️
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 6, 2021
The Højgaard's become the first twins to rank inside the top 100 in the Official World Golf Rankings. pic.twitter.com/02qyZTMcPc
Going down
Of those who remain in the top 50, Tommy Fleetwood, Adam Scott and Webb Simpson all dropped at least 20 spots. Fleetwood, who also lost his full PGA Tour card, slipped from 17th to 40th, Simpson from sixth to 27th, and Scott from 21st to 46th.
Patrick Reed and Tyrrell Hatton both slithered from inside the top 12 to outside the top 20.
A small but significant drop was Rory McIlroy's: he started the year ranked fourth and is now ninth.
Two others to note are Victor Perez, who was flying high at 32nd but is now 81st, and Matt Kuchar. The veteran was 37th at New Year and is now 114th.