Schwartzel, who finished in tied seventh place on 11 under at the British Open, is also the only South African inside the top 50 players in the latest world rankings having moved up one position following the recent tournament in Liverpool.
Louis Oosthuizen is the next South African on the list, coming in at number 54 in the world while Ernie Els follows at 63.
Meanwhile Northern Irelands’s Rory McIlroy is the new world No 2 after his dramatic British Open victory on Sunday at Royal Liverpool lifted him six places in the rankings.
Australia’s Adam Scott keeps the top spot after finishing in a tie for fifth with countryman Marc Leishman on 12 under, five shots behind the Northern Irishman.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson drops to No 3 while Justin Rose of England is fourth and Spaniard Sergio Garcia climbs from ninth to fifth.
