In a week which has seen Lee Westwood crowned world number one it’s safe to say he has once and for all secured himself a place in the history books as one of the game’s most formidable forces. His presence alone is enough to unsettle rivals on tour and, while a controversial comparison, it wouldn’t be unfair to suggest his current aura is much like that of Mike Tyson who only had to look at opponents to ruffle feathers on the way to inevitable victory.
Westwood’s measured strides and broad shoulders make him easy to pick out amongst a crowd and it comes as little surprise that he has finally closed the gap and overtaken Tiger Woods. The Englishman, who has been recovering from a calf injury which has seriously hampered his ability to play tournaments in recent months, watched on patiently last Sunday as Martin Kaymer failed to take the top two finish needed at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters to himself usurp Woods. With victory eventually going to Ryder Cup hero Graeme McDowell and Kaymer finishing outside the top 20, Westwood was thrust into the headlines – the first man from these shores to hold the number one slot since Nick Faldo in 1994 and only the thirteenth since the rankings were devised in 1986.
Much deserved
Westwood has worked his socks off to get his game to where he wants it, however, he will face an immediate challenge at the WGC-HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai. Currently one shot off the lead following a near faultless six under par 66, Westwood knows he must stave off a threat from Woods who can regain his top spot with victory.“I wouldn’t write Tiger off,” remarked a humble Westwood. “He has proved time and time again that he can come back.”
With career stats that are so topsy turvy this man can certainly claim to have experienced a little of everything after starting his inexorable climb from outside the world’s top 250 in March 2003.
When the era of the Woosman, Faldo and Ballesteros came to an end there arrived four very different golfers to take Europe into the future; Darren Clarke, Colin Montgomerie, Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia.
Garcia at the time was the young gun and is possibly one of the most naturally talented and gifted golfers never to have won a major, Montgomerie has come close on many occasions but never managed to get across the line and Westwood as we know finished runner up in the Masters and The Open this year but has also yet to cross the finish line in first. Lee however has won three times on tour this year and it has been a superb calendar year for all Europeans, with two out of the four Majors and the small matter of regaining the Ryder Cup of course.
Darren Clarke is a gem of a golfer and one of the most loved personalities throughout the golfing world. He has a special relationship with Tiger as we all know and his first Professional win came at the prestigious Alfred Dunhill Open where he only beat Nick Faldo and Vijay Singh, two previous world number ones, but still Dazza hasn’t managed to cross the major winning line. Now these four golfers are all different but currently still share the same major CV.
Lee is the only one of the four to make it to number one in the world and has the best chance to card one of the big four. I would predict it is ‘inevitable’, as long as Lee stays fit for the vast majority of next year’s calendar year, that he will definitely clinch a major title. I fancy him for the British Open at the Royal St Georges in Sandwich Kent. The last time The British Open was held in Kent was back in July 2003, ironically when Lee’s form slumped to an all time low.
Hold on tight
“This week is going to be very exciting for the game with four people having the chance to go to No.1,” he said. “It’s all right getting to the No.1 spot, but it’s actually hanging in there and holding on to it that matters. The way I was playing before I got injured, I was proving that I was one of the best players in the world.
“I haven’t played a lot recently, so I’ll be a bit rusty, but I suppose being world number one and defending that will give me a little extra urge if I needed it.”
Westwood will be very determined and focused for the remaining three days and after a good start especially, in which a win would put some comfortable breathing space between himself and Tiger. One doubts Westwood will slip in form throughout the winter and fingers crossed when the majors come round he can take heart from the exploits of David Duval and Fred Couples who both went on to win big after securing the number one slot.
Finally it is worth mentioning and commending Pete Cowen, Lee’s coach, for his fabulous work in getting his man fit; not just physically but mentally as well. Competing with Woods, who is known for his steely determination in even the most tense situations, is no mean feat. Having taken advantage of the American's off course scandals the challenge now is for Westwood to build on the foundations he has worked so hard to lay.