CHAMPIONS TOURNAMENT: LEE WESTWOOD yesterday dealt tersely with suggestions his number one ranking was a hollow accolade because he has so far failed to win one of golf's four majors.
The 37-year-old, who ended Tiger Woods’ 281-week reign as number one on Monday, has seen his elevation come under fire from some quarters.
Woods’ former coach Butch Harmon was one who criticised Westwood’s rise to number one, saying the ranking system “sucked”.
“Did Westwood win a major this year, or any year? I think not,” he said.
The last Englishman to top the rankings, six-time major winner Nick Faldo, said on Sunday that Westwood needed to cement his new status with a major trophy.
Westwood’s response at the Champions tournament in Shaungai was terse.
“I would agree with him. I don’t need Nick to tell me that. That’s fairly obvious,” was his curt response to reporters.
“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.
“I’ve given myself a lot of chances and I haven’t managed to finish it off. You look at the stats and the previous world number ones and they have all won major championships. It would be nice to join that club as well,” said Westwood.
“All I can do is keep putting myself in position and giving myself chances at winning, which I have done over the last couple of years,” he added.
Westwood knows he can ill afford to rest on his laurels as he battles against injury and a challenge from his rivals to hold onto the world number one spot this week in Shanghai.
It could be a short stay at the top with Woods, Martin Kaymer and defending champion Phil Mickelson all able to dethrone Westwood in Shanghai.
The Englishman’s cause is certainly not helped by a lingering calf injury, and he knows it will require all of his strength and ability to ensure he is still holding the number-one position come Sunday evening.
“It’s one thing getting there, another thing staying there. It’s obviously very close at the moment,” said Westwood.
“It’s going to be tough this week. I have to play well, which may not be easy because I’m bound to be a bit rusty because I’ve not played a lot just recently.
“It (the injury) is still not right,” he added. “But I was getting bored of sitting at home doing nothing and all of the people I’ve seen have said I can’t do any more damage to it, so to come out and the walking around may do it a little bit of good.”
MOLINARI WINS TOP-SHOT AWARD
EDOARDO MOLINARI of Italy has won the European Tour Shot of the Month Award for September for his pin-point accuracy at the par five 15th hole during the final round of the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre.
Trailing Miguel Angel Jiménez by three shots with four holes to play, Molinari struck a superb iron to within two feet at the 516-yard 15th for an improbable eagle three to put the pressure on Jimenez, who nonetheless held on to win the tournament.
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