Zander Lombard reached a career-high 124^th on the Official World Golf Ranking list after his share of sixth in the DP World Tour’s Dubai Invitational at the weekend.

Lombard jumped 15 places in the rankings after a final round which saw him only slip out of contention for the victory when he made double-bogey on the 14^th hole. It was a performance which has confirmed that he is in the running for a maiden DP World Tour title after two top-10s, a 12^th and a 25^th-place finish in his four events in the new season so far.

His compatriot Thriston Lawrence also had a substantial boost on the rankings list, climbing 14 places to 67^th. He is within touching distance of his highest-ever ranking of 63^rd, and he regains his position as South Africa’s highest-ranked player from Dean Burmester.

Burmester had a big boost when he was able to play – and win – the Joburg Open and the Investec South African Open Championship, but, like all LIV Golf players, he is stymied as the new LIV season gets underway on February 2 in Mexico without any ranking points available. He is down four places this week to 76^th.

South Africa’s top 20:

1. Thriston Lawrence 67 (up 14)
2. Dean Burmester 76 (down 4)
3. Erik van Rooyen 86 (down 3)
4. Christiaan Bezuidenhout 107 (down 2)
5. Zander Lombard 124 (up 15)
6. Louis Oosthuizen 129 (down 1)
7. Garrick Higgo 176 (up 1)
8. Hennie du Plessis 197 (up 2)
9. MJ Daffue 258 (unchanged)
10. Ockie Strydom 260 (up 2)
11. Louis de Jager 267 (down 2)
12. Casey Jarvis 287 (unchanged)
13. Charl Schwartzel 296 (down 2)
14. Jaco Ahlers 297 (down 4)
15. Jayden Schaper 307 (up 1)
16. Jacques Kruyswijk 309 (up 1)
17. Darren Fichardt 312 (up 2)
18. Oliver Bekker 347 (unchanged)
19. Wilco Nienaber 380 (up 2)
20. Deon Germishuys 392 (up 1)