Woods' lead in world rankings keeps growing

Another start, another win for world No. 1 Tiger Woods.

Thanks to his win at the Dubai Desert Classic, Woods' lead at the top of the latest world golf rankings is up to 11.25 average points. He led No. 2 Phil Mickelson by 11.02 points last week.

Woods' lead grew even with Mickelson losing in a playoff at the PGA Tour's FBR Open. Steve Stricker held steady in third place.

Ernie Els shared third behind Woods and inched up a spot to fourth, knocking Adam Scott down to fifth. Jim Furyk and Justin Rose held steady in sixth and seventh.

Rory Sabbatini and K.J. Choi exchanged places, with Sabbatini up to eighth. The next eight players remained the same, with Padraig Harrington followed by Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Geoff Ogilvy, Angel Cabrera, Zach Johnson and Aaron Baddeley.

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Holmes wins playoff

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- J.B. Holmes seemed headed for a stinging collapse. He had blown a four-stroke lead in the final round of the FBR Open and fallen one shot back with one hole to play.

Yet in the nick of time, the young Kentuckian persevered and beat one of the game's best. Holmes made consecutive birdies on the 18th hole Sunday - one to force a playoff with Phil Mickelson and the other to beat him. "That's pretty impressive golf," Mickelson said. Holmes knew that he had not yet lived up to promise of his 2006 rookie season, when he won the FBR in just his fourth PGA tournament. He hadn't won one since. "I just had a little trouble adjusting to all the traveling out here," Holmes said, "and I just got married in November, so I'm more settled in life and happier right now.

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