Lawrence Donegan explains why Martin Kaymer hasn't moved to No. 1.
Kaymer has now won the last three tournaments in which he has played, a run of success that started at the US PGA Championship in August. Throw in Europe's dramatic Ryder Cup victory at Celtic Manor last weekend, to which he contributed 2½ points, and no wonder there are some people who would argue that "to hell with what the world rankings say, the German is the best player in the world right now".
James Corrigan on the chances of Kaymer vaulting to the top spot, as well as how Tiger could retain the No. 1 position by simply teeing it up somewhere.
Kaymer is not playing in this week's Portugal Masters but will attempt a four-timer in Spain next week. That would tee him up nicely for his own shot at becoming No 1 at the WGC HSBC Champions in Shanghai. He may even find Westwood waiting there to defend his new status. The Englishman confirmed he would be pulling out of Portugal and, because of the vagaries of the ranking system, that ensures that in three weeks' time he will be toppling Woods off the perch he has held for more than five years.
"I'm not allowing myself to think about it until it happens," Westwood said. "But yes, it is something I've always dreamed of."
The only way it will not happen is if Woods decides to play in the next three weeks, which is on the extremely doubtful side of unlikely. If, and when, he doesn't, it will leave Britain to boast the world's top-rated player for the first time since Nick Faldo in 1994. It may not be achieved in the manner in which Westwood wanted but, as he said: "I'll take it anyway."