His share of 54^th in the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii on the weekend saw MJ Daffue be one of precious few South African players to climb on the Official World Golf Rankings on Monday as he reached 141^st on the global list.

Naturally, the South Africans fell in the rankings because few – if any – were in action last week, and, as the DP World Tour kicks back into action this week, the outlook is a little less bleak for the next rankings update.

Daffue climbed six places to 141^st, his highest-ever ranking. It was a solid start to his year on the PGA Tour during his rookie season.

In the meantime, South Africa’s LIV Golf regulars, Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace, are all suffering from not playing in points-scoring events, and sliding down the lists. A good showing early in the year will elevate Dean Burmester beyond Oosthuizen to become South Africa’s highest-ranked player.

South Africa’s top 20

1. Louis Oosthuizen 52 (down 2)
2. Dean Burmester 56 (down 1)
3. Thriston Lawrence 68 (down 5)
4. Christiaan Bezuidenhout 75 (down 6)
5. Oliver Bekker 107 (down 3)
6. Erik van Rooyen 126 (down 4)
7. Shaun Norris 127 (down 3)
8. MJ Daffue 141 (up 6)
9. Garrick Higgo 167 (down 6)
10. Charl Schwartzel 170 (down 3)
11. Justin Harding 172 (down 4)
12. Hennie du Plessis 183 (down 7)
13. Branden Grace 194 (down 11)
14. Dylan Frittelli 196 (down 2)
15. George Coetzee 219 (down 3)
16. JC Ritchie 221 (down 4)
17. Ockie Strydom 240 (down 1)
18. Louis de Jager 248 (up 1)
19. Daniel van Tonder 250 (down 2)
20. Jaco Ahlers 253 (down 2)