Cabrera up to 18th in world rankings

LONDON (Reuters) - Argentina's Angel Cabrera soared 51 places to 18th in Monday's world rankings after securing his second major victory at the U.S. Masters.

The 39-year-old became the lowest-ranked player to win the coveted Green Jacket since the rankings began in 1986 when he defeated Americans Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell in a three-way playoff at Augusta National on Sunday.

Cabrera's triumph also helped him leap 145 positions to third in the European Tour's inaugural Race to Dubai, behind leader Geoff Ogilvy of Australia and Britain's Paul Casey.

The South American, who achieved his major breakthrough at the 2007 U.S. Open, spoke in glowing terms of twice former Masters champion Seve Ballesteros after Sunday's win.

Ballesteros, who is battling against brain cancer in his native Spain, was involved in the last three-way playoff at Augusta when he took on eventual winner Larry Mize of the U.S. and Australian Greg Norman in 1987.

"For me he's the greatest golfer ever," Cabrera told reporters. "I have always had a great friendship with him.

"We need him to get back. We need him in the game."

(Writing by Tony Jimenez, editing by Justin Palmer)