31 Jan 2012

Snedeker vaults into top 20 for first time after gift victory

9:34 am on 31 January 2012

The American golfer Brandt Snedeker has broken into the world's top 20 for the first time after being gifted victory at the Farmers Insurance Open in California.

Snedeker benefitted from an unbelievable meltdown on the final hole by the runaway leader Kyle Stanley who blew a four-stroke lead with an eight at the closing hole, then three-putted in the playoff to lose the title.

Snedeker has jumped 18 places up the world rankings to 15th.

And England's Robert Rock has improved 62 places to 55th after his shock win over Tiger Woods and company at the Abu Dhabi championship, while Woods improved another eight ranking places to 17th.