NORTH Hampshire golfer Justin Rose returned to the top 10 of the world rankings with an eighth-place finish at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

A final round of 68 (-4) saw the former Robert May’s School pupil move up 12 places and end the tournament 13-under-par, six shots behind winner Seung-Yul Noah of South Korea.

Rose got his campaign at TPC Louisiana off to a good start, but his card was spoiled by a double-bogey five at the penultimate hole, the 33-year-old eventually signing for a one-under-par round of 71.

He improved on day two, making birdies at five of his last nine holes to card a second round of 67 (-5), while a three-under-par round of 69 left him 20th going into the final day.

The Hook golfer got off to a slow start in his closing round, making bogey at the opening hole, but he went on to fire in five birdies to shoot four-under-par and move into the top-10.

The result saw Rose move up a place to 10th in the world rankings ahead of this weekend’s Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.