Date: July 24, 2007
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Green powers up the rankings

Richard Green&aposs big finish to the British Open at Carnoustie has moved the Australian up 10 places in the world rankings to 29th. Green produced a sensational seven-under 64 on the final day to equal the course record and finish tied for fourth on five-under, just two strokes adrift of the score that got eventual winner Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia into a playoff. The Australian&aposs good form at the Open and his victory at the Austrian Open earlier this year has seen him steadily climb up the rankings, although Green was fortunate to have even made the field for Carnoustie as he was ranked outside the top 50 when qualification for the event finished. Despite climbing to 39th by winning in Austria just one week after the qualification deadline, Green looked like he would still miss out on the tournament until Woody Austin&aposs withdrawal paved the way for the 36-year-old to enter the field. Indeed, Green looked on track to break the course record, but nerves got the better of him as he bogeyed the difficult 18th hole. Instead, Green will have to be content with his climb up the rankings and his qualification for the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational to be held in Ohio early next month. Green, along with Geoff Ogilvy, Rod Pampling and Robert Allenby, are the latest Australasians to qualify for the event which will be held at the Firestone Country Club. They will join Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, New Zealander Michael Campbell, Mark Hensby, Peter Lonard, Nick O Hern, Adam Scott and John Senden at the event.