Movers: Wi cracks top 20 for the first time

The trend of 54-hole leaders fading on Sunday continued Sunday at the ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Charlie Wi, who entered the finale with a three-shot advantage, four-putted the first hole and was playing catch-up well before he made the turn at Pebble Beach.

Fortunately for Wi, he recovered very well, posting birdies on his final three holes to secure sole possession of second place and 300 FedExCup points. That total made him the week’s biggest mover, jumping from No. 139 to No. 12 in the standings — the highest ranking of Wi’s career.

Also surging at Pebble Beach was champion Phil Mickelson, who moved up 77 spots to No. 5 in the standings. Mickelson has never ranked inside the top 5 this early in the season and with a trip to Riviera (where he won in 2008 and 2009) coming up this week, Mickelson’s stock could be ready to take off.

Ricky Barnes (16th) and Aaron Baddeley (21st) join Mickelson and Wi as the players to move from outside the top 50 into the FedExCup top 30 this week.

A total of 16 players lost 22 spots or more in the standings last week. One player this probably doesn’t bother is Corey Pavin. The 2010 U.S. Ryder Cup Captain was teeing it up at, and winning, the Allianz Championship on the Champions Tour.

Below are the biggest movers — both up and down — after the 2012 ATT Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Nine of those players who tumbled last week (marked below with a #) will have a chance to gain ground this week because they are in the field for the Northern Trust Open. On the “Who’s up” side, 18 of 22 players will be trying to build on their Pebble Beach momentum this week at Riviera CC.

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