Convicted ex-gang member jumps a whopping 700+ ranking spots with New Zealand Open victory

On Sunday, March 2, Ryan Peake claimed the New Zealand Open title with a one-shot win over Kazuki Higa, Ian Snyman, and Jack Thompson. This victory helped him jump over 700 spots in the latest OWGR update.

Ryan Peake is an Australian golfer who majorly competes on the PGA Tour of Australasia and the European Tour. However, he also has a history of being a former gang member in his youth. The Western Australian golfer was once a member of the Rebel gang and was convicted of assault at the age of 21, which led to a five-year sentence.

However, putting all that behind him, Peake turned a new chapter in his life by winning the New Zealand Open. Before this week, he was ranked 1,215th in the world but has now jumped to 432nd following the win.

As per the latest OWGR update, Scottie Scheffler has maintained the top spot with 14.4967 points. He holds a lead of over six points ahead of Rory McIlroy, who has moved up to second this week. Xander Schauffele, who has been out of action for nearly two months, has slipped to third, followed by Ludvig Aberg and Collin Morikawa.

Here's a look at the latest OWGR:

Scottie Scheffler: 14.4967
Rory McIlroy: 8.4252
Xander Schauffele: 8.4111
Ludvig Aberg: 6.3546
Collin Morikawa: 5.6881
Hideki Matsuyama: 5.5950
Wyndham Clark: 3.8836
Justin Thomas: 3.6763
Tyrrell Hatton: 3.5921
Tommy Fleetwood: 3.5877
Bryson DeChambeau: 3.4877
Maverick McNealy: 3.4726
Patrick Cantlay: 3.4570
Russell Henley: 3.4198
Viktor Hovland: 3.3871
Keegan Bradley: 3.3551
Shane Lowry: 3.3133
Sepp Straka: 3.2848
Robert MacIntyre: 3.2731
Billy Horschel: 3.0988
Sahith Theegala: 3.0918
Sungjae Im: 2.9529
Thomas Detry: 2.8517
Adam Scott: 2.7491
Aaron Rai: 2.7247

Ryan Peake earns the Open Championship spot after New Zealand Open win

Ryan Peake's victory at the New Zealand Open has secured him a spot at the Open Championship 2025. However, to compete in the event, the former gang member will need special permission to travel to the UK for the oldest major championship.

Following his release, Peake restarted playing golf and rebuilt himself under the guidance of Richie Smith.

"I've just changed my life," he said, as per Golf.com. "This is what I do. I want to be here and just play golf. The story is what it is, but I'm just out here playing golf."

Peake received his Australasian Tour card earlier this season and is now set to compete in his first-ever major championship.

About the author

Shobhit is one of Sportskeeda’s most seasoned golf journalists, having already authored 3600+ articles and received nearly 5.7 million reads. Prior to his current role, he worked with the Asiana Times after completing his MSc in Geology, giving him a solid foundation in understanding the terrain, variety and challenges posed by various golf courses.

He is a keen follower of the sport and keeps himself updated about the latest trends, news and updates via social media and various news platforms. Shobhit is also methodical about accuracy, going through multiple articles from leading media houses and reputed sources before writing his own. Simultaneously, he specializes in writing reader-friendly content that conveys the necessary information in simple language.

Shobhit was a fan of Tiger Woods growing up, but of late, Nelly Korda, Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Aberg have caught his attention.

He likes to spend his downtime singing and writing, while he is also an avid watcher of cricket and tennis.

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Edited by Shobhit Kukreti