Westwood sees chance to cement status as No.1
Source: Agencies |
November 4, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
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LEE Westwood tersely dealt with suggestions his number one ranking was a hollow accolade yesterday in Shanghai because he hasn't won one of golf's four majors.
The 37-year-old, who ended Tiger Woods' 281-week reign as world number one on Monday, has seen his elevation come under fire from some quarters.
Woods's former coach Butch Harmon was one who criticized Westwood's rise to number one, saying the ranking system "sucked."
"Did Westwood win a major this year, or any year? I think not," Harmon said.
The last Englishman to top the rankings, six-times major winner Nick Faldo, said on Sunday that Westwood needed to cement his new status with a major trophy.
Westwood's response yesterday was terse. "I would agree with him. I don't need Nick to tell me that. That's fairly obvious," he said ahead of today's opening round of the HSBC Champions.
"I've had quite a good career so far. But a major has been missing and I have performed well in them over the last couple of years," he added.
He certainly has come close, losing a 54-hole lead at the US Masters this year and finishing second to Phil Mickelson, and missing playoffs at the 2009 British Open and 2008 US Open by one putt.
The battle for No. 1 is the biggest story entering the Shanghai event.
Westwood is narrowly ahead of the man he replaced, Tiger Woods, with Martin Kaymer not far behind and defending champion Mickelson still a threat as ever.
Of greater concern than his competition, however, is the injury that has kept Westwood out of action. He has completed only one tournament since his runner-up finish at the British Open in July, although he did play four matches over 64 holes at the Ryder Cup. He has been slowed by a calf injury that mostly affects his ankle.
"It's one thing getting there," Westwood said of his new ranking, "it's another thing staying there.
"It's going to be tough this week. I have to play well, which may not be easy. I'm bound to be a bit rusty because I've not played a lot recently."
Westwood said his injury is taking longer to recover and is still "not right." What brings him to Shanghai is a report from doctors that he can't do any more damage to his leg, and that walking around instead of lying around might do him some good.
He has scrapped plans to play in the Singapore Open next week, instead taking more time off until the Dubai World Championship.
"That's not ideal because I would like to play a run of tournaments to get a bit of form together," Westwood said. "But the end of this year ... I'm not going to say is a write-off, but I'm not too worried about the way I play."
The 37-year-old, who ended Tiger Woods' 281-week reign as world number one on Monday, has seen his elevation come under fire from some quarters.
Woods's former coach Butch Harmon was one who criticized Westwood's rise to number one, saying the ranking system "sucked."
"Did Westwood win a major this year, or any year? I think not," Harmon said.
The last Englishman to top the rankings, six-times major winner Nick Faldo, said on Sunday that Westwood needed to cement his new status with a major trophy.
Westwood's response yesterday was terse. "I would agree with him. I don't need Nick to tell me that. That's fairly obvious," he said ahead of today's opening round of the HSBC Champions.
"I've had quite a good career so far. But a major has been missing and I have performed well in them over the last couple of years," he added.
He certainly has come close, losing a 54-hole lead at the US Masters this year and finishing second to Phil Mickelson, and missing playoffs at the 2009 British Open and 2008 US Open by one putt.
The battle for No. 1 is the biggest story entering the Shanghai event.
Westwood is narrowly ahead of the man he replaced, Tiger Woods, with Martin Kaymer not far behind and defending champion Mickelson still a threat as ever.
Of greater concern than his competition, however, is the injury that has kept Westwood out of action. He has completed only one tournament since his runner-up finish at the British Open in July, although he did play four matches over 64 holes at the Ryder Cup. He has been slowed by a calf injury that mostly affects his ankle.
"It's one thing getting there," Westwood said of his new ranking, "it's another thing staying there.
"It's going to be tough this week. I have to play well, which may not be easy. I'm bound to be a bit rusty because I've not played a lot recently."
Westwood said his injury is taking longer to recover and is still "not right." What brings him to Shanghai is a report from doctors that he can't do any more damage to his leg, and that walking around instead of lying around might do him some good.
He has scrapped plans to play in the Singapore Open next week, instead taking more time off until the Dubai World Championship.
"That's not ideal because I would like to play a run of tournaments to get a bit of form together," Westwood said. "But the end of this year ... I'm not going to say is a write-off, but I'm not too worried about the way I play."
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