Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Martin Kaymer hung on for a 1-stroke victory at the Players Championship on Sunday, with the win vaulting him to No. 28 in this week's world golf rankings.
Kaymer's second career win on the PGA Tour jumped him 33 places in the rankings from 61st last week. His other tour victory came at the 2010 PGA Championship.
He held a 3-shot advantage over Jim Furyk with four holes to play on Sunday before a double-bogey at the 15th dropped his lead to just one.
Kaymer then closed his round with three clutch pars, including one at TPC Sawgrass' famous 17th island green, where he converted a 29-foot putt after nearly finding the water off the tee. Kaymer then 2-putted for par from just off the green at the 18th for the win.
Tiger Woods maintained his spot at No. 1, but as he remains sidelined following back surgery, second-ranked Adam Scott cut his deficit in half from .22 average points to just .11 this week.
Henrik Stenson, Masters winner Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar and Jason Day held firm from third through sixth.
Sergio Garcia moved up a pair of slots to seventh after finishing in third place at the Players, which caused Jordan Spieth to drop a place to eighth. Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy each moved up a spot to sit in ninth and 10th, respectively, while Phil Mickelson fell three spots to 11th after missing the cut for the second time in three weeks.
Furyk jumped up two spots to No. 12 with his second-place finish, which caused Zach Johnson and Dustin Johnson to both fall a place into 13th and 14th. Steve Stricker and Graeme McDowell swapped places, with Stricker inching up to 15th and McDowell dipping to No. 16.
Jimmy Walker jumped five spots to 17th, causing Charl Schwartzel, Luke Donald, Jason Dufner and Keegan Bradley to all fall a place and sit in 18th through 21st.
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