Du Plessis back inside world’s top 200

Nov 13, 2023 | Featured, Rankings

After slipping as low as 239th this year, Hennie du Plessis ride his success in the Nedbank Golf Challenge to climb back inside the world’s top 200 in the latest edition of the Official World Golf Ranking issued this week.

Du Plessis finished in a share of sixth, and was up 18 places to 194th after a tournament in which, given the presence of Max Homa, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood, Ryan Fox, Justin Rose and Adrian Meronk from the world’s top 50, one might have thought the field rating might have been even higher than the corresponding rating for the PGA Tour’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

However, Du Plessis is on the rise again, while still some way off his career-high of 122nd, achieved after his share of 15th in the 2022 Soudal Open in Belgium.

Also on the rise after a steady showing at Sun City was Thriston Lawrence, up two places to 97th, and Louis de Jager, also up two to 258th.

The leading South African on the rankings remains Erik van Rooyen, who was off after his big win last week. He was down three places to 85th, but with spots in the Masters and the Players Championship secured, he will be happy with where he stands.

And, in a demonstration of just how important it should be that the world rankings should be more equitably administered, Travis Ladner had an enormous 886-place leap on the list from 3,198th to 2,312nd after his win in the Altron Big Easy Tour 5 at Akasia last week.

South Africa’s top 20:

  1. Erik van Rooyen 85 (down 3)
  2. Thriston Lawrence 97 (up 2)
  3. Christiaan Bezuidenhout 116 (unchanged)
  4. Dean Burmester 148 (down 4)
  5. Zander Lombard 171 (unchanged)
  6. Garrick Higgo 172 (down 2)
  7. Hennie du Plessis 194 (up 18)
  8. MJ Daffue 229 (down 6)
  9. Ockie Strydom 240 (down 3)
  10. Louis de Jager 258 (up 2)
  11. Jaco Ahlers 280 (down 4)
  12. Oliver Bekker 289 (down 6)
  13. Casey Jarvis 311 (down 2)
  14. Deon Germishuys 337 (down 2)
  15. George Coetzee 346 (down 8)
  16. Jacques Kruyswijk 385 (up 4)
  17. Shaun Norris 390 (down 7)
  18. Dylan Frittelli 394 (down 10)
  19. JC Ritchie 400 (down 14)
  20. Jbe’ Kruger 404 (down 6)

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