Potter and Siem into top 100 in world ranking for first time in their careers

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. -- Ted Potter Jr. won the Greenbrier Classic in a tense playoff over fellow American rookie Troy Kelly on Sunday, and rocketed up the world rankings on Monday.

Potter, 28, entered last week ranked No. 218 in the world, but vaulted all the way up to No. 83 after an exquisite tee shot and a four-foot birdie putt on the third hole of sudden death.

Also making a big move up the rankings was Marcel Siem of Germany, who won the Alstom French Open for his second career European Tour victory and first in eight years. He rose from No. 120 up to No. 58. Both Potter and the 31-year-old Siem are inside the top 100 for the first time in their careers.

There were few changes at the top of the rankings this week as the players enter the final stretch before the British Open. Luke Donald keeps the No. 1 spot, followed by No. 2 Rory McIlroy and No. 3 Lee Westwood, who tweaked his knee when he slipped on the first tee in Paris on Saturday, but played the weekend and said Sunday night that he felt okay.

Tiger Woods remains No. 4 despite missing the cut at the Greenbrier, while Webb Simpson stays fifth after tying for seventh. Bubba Watson is sixth, with Jason Dufner seventh and Matt Kuchar is eighth. Those two traded places from last week, when Kuchar was seventh and Dufner eighth. Justin Rose is ninth after tying for ninth in the French Open, and Hunter Mahan rounds out the top 10.

The second 10 includes No. 11 Graeme McDowell, No. 12 Adam Scott, No. 13 Steve Stricker, No. 14 Martin Kaymer, No. 15 Dustin Johnson (up from 16th), No. 16 Phil Mickelson (down from 15th), No. 17 Zach Johnson, No. 18 Charl Schwartzel, No. 19 Rickie Fowler and No. 20 Louis Oosthuizen.

Potter was four shots behind with five holes to play at the Greenbrier, but finished eagle-birdie for a 64 and a four-round total of 264, which Kelly matched with his 66.

Siem’s win in Paris was impressive in that the field there included two former world No. 1s in Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer, plus McDowell, Rose and Ian Poulter.

"This is one of the biggest tournaments we have on the European Tour, so to win it means so much," Siem said. "I've destroyed so many tournaments with stupid mistakes, but I never believed in myself like I did this week. I always show emotions, but I am a lot calmer now and I thought about my little daughter at home. I think that was one of the keys."

Potter, Kelly and Marc Leishman, who won the Travelers Championship a few weeks ago, also nailed down spots in the British Open on Sunday, as did Siem for his victory in Paris.