Golf's Cliff-hangers: the Biggest World Ranking Drops of 2013

The Biggest World Ranking Drops of 2013

The 2013 season saw some big movements in the World Golf Rankings, with some players forging ahead and others losing ground as they weathered the pressures of the past 12 months. Here are some of the players who took a drop this season - although they may be geared for comebacks in 2014.

Darren Clarke
Northern Ireland's Clarke fell by 156 positions in the rankings this year, finishing 2013 at ranked 301st in the world. The Ulsterman was ranked 145th at the end of 2012.

Clarke won the 2011 British Open, but hasn't enjoyed a great deal of success in major tournaments since then – in 2013 he missed a US Masters invitation and failed to make the cut at the US Open. However, he did tie for 21st place at the British Open.

Louis Oosthuizen
South Africa's Louis "Shrek" Oosthuizen fell 28 positions in the world rankings in 2013 – dropping from 6th in the world to 34th over the past 12 months.

Oosthuizen started the season well with a win at the 2013 Volvo Golf Champions, but heavy pressure at the top of the World Golf Rankings and no subsequent wins resulted in the South African's dive in 2013.

Lee Westwood
Another player who found himself edged out of the world top ten this year is England's Lee Westwood. The Briton fell from 7th in the world rankings to 24th – a drop of 17 positions that came at the end of a lukewarm year for the former world number one.

Westwood took the top spot in the World Golf Rankings in 2010 in the midst of Tiger Woods' decline - but times have changed, and with no victories this year the resilient Westwood will have to wait until 2014 to reclaim his place in the world top 10.

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