Woods falls farther as Kaymer leads European surge

GOLF: HOW THE mighty have fallen, as evidenced by Tiger Woods's continued downward spiral in the official world rankings. As Martin Kaymer yesterday ascended to the number one position – the shift in power in the golfing world confirmed by Europeans occupying the top four in the rankings for the first time in nearly nine years – the new list gave further incentive to those immediately behind the German that they too could aspire to achieving such a career objective.

With Woods dropping to fifth, but remaining the leading American player despite haemorrhaging ranking points as his quest for that elusive first win since returning to tournament play 10 months ago drags on and on, Kaymer’s elevation to the top spot was hailed by his compatriot Bernhard Langer as “fantastic . . . . he is a great role model.”

Kaymer leapfrogged Lee Westwood to assume the top spot, while Luke Donald, his conqueror in the Accenture Matchplay final in Tucson on Sunday, moved to a career high third. US Open champion Graeme McDowell remained at fourth, with Woods falling from third to fifth.

With Westwood, who succeeded Woods as number one and held the position for 17 weeks, Donald and McDowell all in the field for this week’s Honda Classic in Florida, Kaymer – who is taking a week out before competing in next week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral – faces the prospect of immediately losing the top spot should any of that trio win.

Still, Langer, who held the world number one position for three weeks when it was introduced in 1986, is convinced Kaymer will remain at the top for “many, many years.”

As Langer observed, “from a golfing standpoint, he can do anything. He has no limits. He hits it far. He hits it straight. His short game is getting better and better . . .. he has a very good head on his shoulders, and that’s what counts.”

The upward movement by Europe’s players is in marked contrast to the decline of Woods, who is down to his lowest ranking since being in that position the week before his US Masters win in 1997. And Kaymer remarked, “it’s fantastic to have four Europeans up there. It was always Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. I’m sure Tiger and Phil will chase us, but the guys who are up there are very consistent, good players. So I can see them staying there for a while.”

Donald, who moved from ninth to third in the world on the back of his Accenture victory over Kaymer, has now set his sights on emulating Kaymer and Westwood.

“There is some volatility in the rankings. Tiger Woods isn’t way ahead and number one is up for grabs for a number of people. If I keep winning tournaments, then I’ll probably deserve to be number one. But I’ve got to keep on winning.”

Europeans last dominated the rankings so strongly back in March of 1992, when Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, Jose Maria Olazabal and Seve Ballesteros held the top four positions.

McDowell has moved on the West Palm Beach Gardens for this week’s Honda Classic, part of an intensive schedule he has put in place in the run-up to next month’s US Masters.

“I’m playing Honda, Doral (WGC-Cadillac), the Tavistock Cup in Orlandò and Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer Invitational), getting ready for the Masters. I feel like I’m getting back into my season again after four weeks break. I’m just gearing back up and I’m excited about things,” said McDowell.

While McDowell and McIlroy are part of a strong European contingent competing in the Honda, Pádraig Harrington – a past winner of that tournament – has a week at home in Dublin after a three-week stint stateside before returning for the event in Doral next week.

“Even though my first few tournament results haven’t been great, I am not worried as it is early in my season and I am happy with my game. I am delighted with how my winter work has fared and now I know that I have to concentrate on the mental side of my game and forget about technique. I can see from my first few events that I have been far too into my technique, which is quite normal for me after a winter working on it,” said Harrington.