The Battle for Golf’s #1 Goes Four Ways in Shanghai

Despite losing his #1 ranking, Tiger Woods is still the hands down favourite to take the title at the HSBC Champions.

At 8-1, he sits well ahead of Lee Westwood , the world’s new top player, and world #3 Martin Kaymer who both go off at 17-1.

After Woods struggles, both on and off the course, the world’s top spot has become anything but a foregone conclusion.  We could see a new #1 come out again this week.  One player who’s received little attention during Woods ‘fall’ is Phil Mickelson.  If the American left-hander can top the field at the Sheshan International Golf Club, he’ll leap frog from #4 to #1.

PGA Champion Martin Kaymer had his shot to be on top of the golf world last week at the Andalucia Masters.  Needing a top two finish, the 25-year old from Dusseldorf stumbled with a final round 75 to finish tied for 21st opening the door for Westwood.  A win this week and he goes #1.

By now, I’m sure you see the volatility that surrounds the top of the World Golf Rankings.  Four players have a chance to move to top the golf world. 

It seems the one who’s really been marginalized in this discussion is the man who, until Sunday, held the title for over five years.  Tiger Woods.  However, I’ve long lived by one ‘Tiger Rule’.  Count him out at your own peril.  He’s got skills no one has ever seen and to throw him away due to a series of events that saw his life turned upside down and his golf game put on the back burner is, in short, ridiculous.  He’s still the most talented player on the planet regardless of what a computer may say or not. 

His recent work with new swing coach Sean Foley had him dialed in from tee-to-green at the Ryder Cup, as Woods won 3 of 4 matches.  This week he will take on a course that boasts par 5’s of almost 600 yards and a series of par 4’s over 450 yards.  Tiger could very well run away from the field if he brings the same precision he displayed in Wales.

Despite this #1-centric look, there are others heading to Shanghai hoping to lift the trophy.  Former PGA Champion YE Yang, young guns Rickie Fowler and Rory McIlroy and current Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen will not defer to the top four and have more than enough game to stand alone on Sunday.

The quest for #1 on the globe and #1 in Shanghai should be clearer after round one.  Keep it in the fairway!