Despite losing the final at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship on Sunday, German Martin Kaymer has become the 14th player to be ranked No. 1.
Englishman Lee Westwood drops to No. 2 after holding top spot since the end of October, with countryman Luke Donald jumping to No. 3 thanks to his Match Play victory Sunday at Dove Mountain.
Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell slips in at No. 4, relegating American Tiger Woods to No. 5, his lowest ranking since before the won the 1997 Masters.
"It's fantastic to have four Europeans up there," said Kaymer. "It was always Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
"I'm sure Tiger and Phil will chase us. But the guys you are up there are very consistent, good players, so I can see them staying there for a while."
Donald, who was ranked ninth just a week ago, concurred: "We've really had a purple patch in world golf," he said.
"Whether I deserve No. 3, I don't know, but certainly in terms of my work ethic and wanting it, I do.
"There is some volatility in the rankings. Tiger Woods isn't way ahead and No. 1 is up for grabs for a number of people. If I keep winning tournaments, then I'll probably deserve to be No. 1, but I've got to keep on winning."
Europeans last dominated the rankings so strongly on March 15, 1992, when Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros held the top four spots.
Woods drops in rankings, Kaymer is new No. 1
Advertisement