Lee Westwood is the first European to hold the world golf number 1 spot in over 15 years.
After Martin Kaymer failed to secure a top-two finish at the Andalucia Masters in Spain, Englishman Westwood will end Tiger Woods’ 281-week reign as world number one.
Kaymer finished with a disappointing 75 at Valderrama on Sunday to post a seven-over-par score of 291 for the week, meaning Westwood will be placed at the summit of world golf despite missing the event due to injury.
Westwood, 37, is the first European since Nick Faldo in 1994 to top the rankings, and despite not having won a major, is worthy of the ranking according to legendary Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie.
‘There’s a lot of talk about Lee not having won a major so how can he be number one, but that didn’t interest me when I was number two in the world and I was trying to get to Greg Norman who was number one at the time,’ Montgomerie said.
But Montgomerie believes that American Woods will fight back, because let’s face it, Tiger Woods for over 5 years for nothing.
‘It might be the end of Tiger’s reign for a limited period, but I don’t think he will be very happy about being two or three in the world,’ he said.
‘He hasn’t gone anywhere, Tiger Woods – he will be back with a vengeance next year and winning majors again. If Tiger Woods plays well, he wins.’
Woods has an early shot at revenge at next week’s WGC-HSBC Champions event in China, in which Westwood will also compete.
