Defending Masters champion Charl Schwartzel has risen to a career high of number six in the world, as he looks to be finding his best form at the right time ahead of the Masters in April.

The South African moved up three positions from last week's rankings, courtesy of a share of fourth place in the World Golf Championship PGA

Tour event at the TPC at Blue Monster in Doral, Florida on Sunday.

Schwartzel fired a final-round four-under 68 for a 13-under-par 275 total, just three strokes behind English winner Justin Rose.

Rose climbed 15 positions with the win but finds himself at seventh in the rankings behind Schwartzel.

In a windy final round, in which Tiger Woods stole the headlines again – this time for withdrawing with an Achilles strain – Schwartzel began with an eagle three on his par-five first hole. He picked up another stroke on the fifth with a birdie on the par four.

Schwartzel then failed to make birdie on the par-five eighth hole before giving a shot back at the par-three ninth.

He then went on a familiar run, which had won him his maiden Major, as he reeled of three birdies in four holes from the 12th hole.

Standing on the 16th tee, the 27-year-old had moved to within a stroke of the lead but was unable to pull off any more heroics and dropped a shot on the difficult par four 18th to settle for fourth place.

Schwartzel also rose from 70th to 35th in the FedEx Cup points standings from only his third PGA Tour event of the season.

The next best South African was Garth Mulroy who finished in a tie for 29th on five under for the week.

Branden Grace put in a solid performance, claiming a share of 35th and Retief Goosen was further down in a tie for 45th.

South African Open champion Henni Otto ended 50th, new European Tour winner Jbe Kruger was and Louis Oosthuizen finished in a share of 60th position.