McIlroy turned professional in September 2007

Rory McIlroy remains on course to make his US Masters debut after he held on to 50th place in the world rankings.

The 19-year-old from Northern Ireland missed the cut at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa.

But he clung on to 50th place because Matthew Goggin lost rather than won a play-off for the Australian Open.

The world's top 50 on 22 December qualify for Augusta, and McIlroy will be looking to cement his spot at this week's South African Open.

England's Ross Fisher and Oliver Wilson, 29th and 39th in the rankings, are certain to make their debuts.

Official World Rankings:

1 Tiger Woods (USA) 12.57pts
2 Sergio Garcia (Spa) 8.32
3 Phil Mickelson (USA) 7.34
4 Padraig Harrington (Irl) 7.18
5 Vijay Singh (Fij) 6.91
6 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 5.21
7 Camilo Villegas (Col) 5.03
8 Henrik Stenson (Swe) 5.01
9 Ernie Els (Rsa) 4.83
10 Lee Westwood (Eng) 4.73

Selected others :
19 Justin Rose (Eng) 3.84
25 Ian Poulter (Eng) 3.20
29 Ross Fisher (Eng) 2.98
31 Luke Donald (Eng) 2.96
33 Graeme McDowell (NIrl) 2.86
39 Oliver Wilson (Eng) 2.64
41 Paul Casey (Eng) 2.62
50 Rory McIlroy (NIrl) 2.30,

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