England’s Lee Westwood has become the new world No. 1 for the first time as he ended Tiger Woods’ 281-week reign at the top of the golf rankings.
Germany’s newly crowned USPGA champion Martin Kaymer needed a top-two finish at the European Tour’s Andalucia Masters to take the top ranking himself, but ended Sunday’s fourth round well off the lead at seven-over.
Kaymer fired a final-round 75 to finish 10 shots behind winner Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland.
That allowed Westwood, who was not playing as he rests an injured calf, to complete a remarkable turnaround in fortunes that sees him become Europe’s first No. 1 since Nick Faldo in 1994, seven years after slumping to 266th in the rankings.
Asked if it was the most satisfying moment of his career, the 37-year-old said: “Yes I think so. It’s a dream, everyone has to say there is nobody better than me at the moment. You have to say it’s a highlight.”
“It’s a great honor and a big responsibility. It certainly sounds and feels good right now,” he said. “When you are growing up and people say what do you want to achieve, everyone says I want to be the best in the world. Right at this moment, I can show people the world rankings and say I am the best on the planet.”
Westwood will quickly come face to face with the man he deposed, with 14-time major winner Woods among the field at the forthcoming WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.
“I have a great relationship with Tiger,” said Westwood, who traveled to Shanghai yesterday afternoon. “We have mutual respect and have always got on well, on and off the course. I give him a little bit of stick and he gives me a little.”
All that is now missing from Westwood’s resume is a major championship, with several recent near misses helping propel him to the top of the rankings, but Westwood is not putting any extra pressure on himself to break his duck now he is world No. 1.
“I don’t think it adds to the pressure, there’s enough as it is,” he said.
Despite once again failing to win a major this year, Westwood has been the most consistent golfer in the world, with runner-up finishes at the Masters and at The Open.
Woods, meanwhile, has failed to win a tournament as the ripple effects from his marriage meltdown have wrecked his form.
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