LONDON, July 21: American Ben Curtis soared to 35th in the world golf rankings from 396 after his shock win in the British Open on Sunday.

Curtis won the Open at Sandwich by a stroke from Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and Fiji’s Vijay Singh to become one of the most surprising winners in major championship history.

The 26-year-old was playing in only his 16th Tour event and is in his first year on the US PGA Tour.

Singh rose to third in the rankings from sixth, behind leader Tiger Woods, who finished two strokes behind Curtis, and South African Ernie Els who finished on 290, seven shots off the pace.

Bjorn, who dropped four shots in the final four holes on Sunday to throw away the chance of victory, rose to 20th from 49th.

Leading world rankings (US unless stated, previous ranking in brackets):

1. (1) Tiger Woods 16.81 points average; 2. (2) Ernie Els (South Africa) 9.38; 3. (6) Vijay Singh (Fiji) 8.25; 4. (3) Mike Weir (Canada) 7.99; 5. (4) Davis Love III 7.64; 6. (5) Jim Furyk 7.34; 7. (7) David Toms 6.79; 8. (8) Kenny Perry 6.36; 9. (9) Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 6.11; 10. (10) Phil Mickelson 5.82; 11. (11) Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 5.77; 12. (12) Retief Goosen (South Africa) 5.04; 13. (13) Justin Leonard 4.29; 14. (15) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 3.90; 15. (14) Chris DiMarco 3.87; 16. (16) Robert Allenby (Australia) 3.67; 17. (18) Rich Beem 3.54; 18. (17) Darren Clarke (Britain) 3.50; 19. (19) Bob Estes 3.44; 20. (49) Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 3.33. 35. (396) Ben Curtis 2.82.—Reuters