England's Luke Donald returned to world number one by finishing third at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
The Englishman needed at least a sole top-seven finish at TPC Louisiana to secure the position once more from Northern Ireland's Rory McIlory.
And, with a birdie on the last hole, he completed his mission with a final-round five-under par 67 to finish on 17-under, two shots behind eventual winner Jason Dufner.
Two weeks ago at the Heritage Classic, Donald finished in a share of 37th place when he needed an eighth or better to keep a resting McIlroy from passing him at the top of the ranking.
Donald's rise to the summit again means the top spot in world golf has changed hands nine times in the last 18 months, with Tiger Woods, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer also holding the position.
McIlroy begins his quest to regain the world number one position this week, when he competes in the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina. It will be the Northern Irishman's first start since his disappointing tied 40th place in The Masters.
Elsewhere, Jason Dufner is into the world's top 20 for the first time after beating Ernie Els in the Zurich Classic play-off.
Els actually climbs more places than Dufner - 63rd to 40th compared to the American's 30th to 20th - and that should guarantee him a start in the US Open on June 14-17.
South Africa's former world number one did not compete in The Masters after falling out of the top 50.
Austrian Bernd Wiesberger is into the sport's top 100 (95th) following his five-stroke victory at the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea.
How the world number one ranking has changed hands
October 24 2010: 1 Woods 8.31; 2 Westwood 8.25; 3 Kaymer 8.03
October 31: 1 Westwood 8.29; 2 Woods 8.13; 3 Kaymer 7.98
February 27 2011: 1 Kaymer 8.35; 2 Westwood 8.16, 3 Donald 6.63
April 24: 1 Westwood 7.65; 2 Kaymer 7.52; 3 Donald 7.38
May 29: 1 Donald 9.14, 2 Westwood 8.74, 3 Kaymer 7.40
March 4 2012: 1 McIlroy 9.30, 2 Donald 8.97, 3 Westwood 8.19
March 18: 1 Donald 10.03, 2 McIlroy 9.85, 3 Westwood 8.16
April 15: 1 McIlroy 9.59, 2 Donald 9.48, 3 Westwood 8.27
April 29: 1 Donald 9.55, 2 McIlroy 9.33, 3 Westwood 8.27
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