At least by one reckoning - Westwood, after his win at the Memphis Classic (aided in no small part by the spectacular, Van de Velde - style collapse up the last by American journeyman Robert Garrigus) has now earned more world ranking points this year than any other, and also more ranking points over the 2 years of the rankings than anyone else.
Only the fact that Westwood has played in 51 events in that time, compared to Mickelson's 41, and Woods' 40 (which is the minimum ranking divisor, Woods has actually played about 25 times in that period) keeps Westwood off the top spot, as the rankings are based on average points per event played.
I really, really, hope Lee can take this form to Pebble Beach and win next week (a victory that would push him up to official world number one even on the average points system). Pebble Beach will be a different prospect to Memphis, though - not only is it a major but also the course itself is more akin to a British links course than the typical American US Open parkland one, swept as it is sometimes by the gales coming off the Pacific. In 1992, almost no-one managed to break 75 in the final round (those that did almost all ended up in the top ten as the rest were shooting 80s or more), so it will be interesting to see if those conditions repeat this year - and if they do, will they favour the Brits like Westwood who really ought to be better in those conditions than others.
Only the fact that Westwood has played in 51 events in that time, compared to Mickelson's 41, and Woods' 40 (which is the minimum ranking divisor, Woods has actually played about 25 times in that period) keeps Westwood off the top spot, as the rankings are based on average points per event played.
I really, really, hope Lee can take this form to Pebble Beach and win next week (a victory that would push him up to official world number one even on the average points system). Pebble Beach will be a different prospect to Memphis, though - not only is it a major but also the course itself is more akin to a British links course than the typical American US Open parkland one, swept as it is sometimes by the gales coming off the Pacific. In 1992, almost no-one managed to break 75 in the final round (those that did almost all ended up in the top ten as the rest were shooting 80s or more), so it will be interesting to see if those conditions repeat this year - and if they do, will they favour the Brits like Westwood who really ought to be better in those conditions than others.
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