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Could Luke Donald Really Be the World's Number One Player?


Chilli Dipper
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There has been quite a bit of talk on this site recently about the World Golf Ranking; specifically, the validity of the most recent players to assume the title of World No. 1. Martin Kaymer, currently in the top spot, is taking the week off, leaving his number one status at risk. Lee Westwood, second in the rankings, is playing in an Asian Tour event in Indonesia, lured by a hefty appearance fee and a soft field to dominate en route to supplanting Kaymer at the top. While a win would propel Westwood ahead of Kaymer, it may still not be enough for Lee to reclaim World No. 1.

Luke Donald, ranked third in the world, is playing at the Heritage in South Carolina this week, a tournament that has been good to him lately: Luke has top-three finishes in each of the last two years at Hilton Head. He can become the world's top-ranked player with a win, regardless of what Westwood does in Indonesia. So far, Donald's looking up to the task, holding a two-shot lead after 36 holes.

Wait a second, though. This is Luke Donald we're talking about. The namesake of the syndrome befalling underachieving professionals, the embodiment of the modern player who earns fame, fortune, and prestige without actually winning anything. Certainly, this man is not worthy of the honor that awaits him should he emerge victorious at Hilton Head...or is he?

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There has been quite a bit of talk on this site recently about the World Golf Ranking; specifically, the validity of the most recent players to assume the title of World No. 1. Martin Kaymer, currently in the top spot, is taking the week off, leaving his number one status at risk. Lee Westwood, second in the rankings, is playing in an Asian Tour event in Indonesia, lured by a hefty appearance fee and a soft field to dominate en route to supplanting Kaymer at the top. While a win would propel Westwood ahead of Kaymer, it may still not be enough for Lee to reclaim World No. 1.

Luke Donald, ranked third in the world, is playing at the Heritage in South Carolina this week, a tournament that has been good to him lately: Luke has top-three finishes in each of the last two years at Hilton Head. He can become the world's top-ranked player with a win, regardless of what Westwood does in Indonesia. So far, Donald's looking up to the task, holding a two-shot lead after 36 holes.

Wait a second, though. This is Luke Donald we're talking about. The namesake of the syndrome befalling underachieving professionals, the embodiment of the modern player who earns fame, fortune, and prestige without actually winning anything. Certainly, this man is not worthy of the honor that awaits him should he emerge victorious at Hilton Head...or is he?



In my mind being number one is nothing to do with winning a major, which is what everyone seems to judge Luke, and Lee Westwood, on. Since Tiger has dominated for so long, everyone compares his contemporaries with his achievements. "Tiger was world number one and won loads of majors, Donald hasn't won any so he doesn't deserve it". Wrong. Who would you fear more right now if you were going into a tournament? Michael Campbell, or Lee Westwood? Vijay Singh or Luke Donald? Trevor Immelman or Rory McIlroy? Winning a major is a superb achievement, but it can easily be a one-off. Had McIlroy shotΒ just a two or three underΒ in his final round at the masters he would have won, such was his start to the tournament. The rankings are to do with consistency over a period of time. No-one can argue with the top 10 at the moment, and players like Donald and Westwood have been infinitely more consistent over the last couple of years than the likes of Tiger. By the end of their careers, Tiger or Phil will be known as the golfers who won multiple majors and dominated for a long period of time. If Donald or Westwood end their careers having been no1 for a month but with no majors, they will be forgotten. But for the time they top the tree they are the best - that's how it works, and how it should. If I come second in 10 tournaments and you win 1 and miss the cut in the other 9, who is the better player?

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Not terribly surprising: Β Luke Donald was a top player, even when he wasn't winning. Β His third win in the window period, including one full-weight WGC, would make him (in my mind at least) a proper #1 for the last two years.

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I guess he should be based on the way he is playing now. I really think this will be a ongoing conversation unless Tiger gets it back together. Luke is a amazing player i really like his game, his iron play is amazing considering he isn't one of the long guys off of the tee. Kaymer really isn't looking like the best player in the world.The number one spot will be tossed around because players are just a win away from being number one. But to answer your question yes Luke should be one he is really playing good golf. You can tell that he has gained some momentum after sinking that chip on 18 in the final round at the Masters. I think to be considered one you need a major under your belt. When it is all said in done we will not remember the the players who were number one we will remember the guys that won on the big stage.

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IMO Luke Donald is as deserving as anyone else.Β  He's got the game and while he hasnt won any majors yet, he's one of the best players in the world right now and has played at a very high level for quite a few years now.

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The World rankings are a joke! The dudes never won a major, so I vote no! I think the rankings should start from scratch every year, not start where they left off. Kaymer is more of a #1 than Westwood or Donald. Ultimately the World rankings are just dumb & useless.

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Originally Posted by SVTGolfer

The World rankings are a joke! The dudes never won a major, so I vote no! I think the rankings should start from scratch every year, not start where they left off. Kaymer is more of a #1 than Westwood or Donald. Ultimately the World rankings are just dumb & useless.



Well, Westwood wasn't the first to reach the #1 rankings without a major. Β Do you really think Todd Hamilton would have been a more fitting #1 than he?

Starting again every year? Β At the end of Tiger's 2007 season, you think he should have lost the #1 ranking, in the midst of one of his most dominating stretches, because he didn't show up at Kapalua?

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I'd take Luke Donald over Martin Kaymer as it stands right now.

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Originally Posted by Shindig

Well, Westwood wasn't the first to reach the #1 rankings without a major.


I think he was, actually. Hee hee hee.

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Originally Posted by iacas

I think he was, actually.Β Β Hee hee hee.


He was at least the fouth, I think.

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Originally Posted by sean_miller

He was at least the fouth, I think.

Everyone but Lee on this list has a major. Fairly certain they had a major before reaching #1. Some of them won it to reach #1.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Number_One_male_golfers

Rank [ N 1 ] ↓ Country ↓ Player ↓ Weeks ↓
1 United States Tiger Woods 623
2 Australia Greg Norman 331
3 England Nick Faldo 97
4 Spain Severiano Ballesteros 61
5 Wales Ian Woosnam 50
6 Zimbabwe Nick Price 44
7 Fiji Vijay Singh 32
8 England Lee Westwood 17
9 United States Fred Couples 16
10 United States David Duval 15
11 South Africa Ernie Els 9
12 Germany Martin Kaymer 8
13 West Germany Bernhard Langer 3
14 United States Tom Lehman 1

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Originally Posted by iacas

Everyone but Lee on this list has a major. Fairly certain they had a major before reaching #1. Some of them won it to reach #1.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Number_One_male_golfers

Rank[N 1]

Country

Player

Weeks

1

United States

Tiger Woods

623

2

Australia

Greg Norman

331

3

England

Nick Faldo

97

4

Spain

Severiano Ballesteros

61

5

Wales

Ian Woosnam

50

6

Zimbabwe

Nick Price

44

7

Fiji

Vijay Singh

32

8

England

Lee Westwood

17

9

United States

Fred Couples

16

10

United States

David Duval

15

11

South Africa

Ernie Els

9

12

Germany

Martin Kaymer

8

13

West Germany

Bernhard Langer

3

14

United States

Tom Lehman

1



I was pretty sure that both Couples and Duval won their lone major after reaching #1 and I read that Woosnam reached #1 just before winning the Masters. Their subsequent major wins may seem to validate the ranking system, but they reached #1 without the major and that wouldn't have changed had then never won one.

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If my eyes aren't deceiving me, David Duval was the only golfer before Westwood to reach #1 without already having won a major. He did win one two years later though.

EDIT: Scratch that. Couples also. He became number one a few weeks before his Masters win. I saw march 1992 next to his name and assumed the Masters was early that year or something. Sorry for butchering this thread.


# ↓ Country ↓ Player ↓ Start date ↓ End date ↓ Number of weeks ↓ Accumulated total ↓ Ref.
1 FRG Bernhard Langer April 6, 1986 April 26, 1986 3 3 [ 1 ]
2 ESP Severiano Ballesteros April 27, 1986 September 13, 1986 20 20
3 AUS Greg Norman September 14, 1986 November 16, 1987 61 61
ESP Severiano Ballesteros November 22, 1987 November 28, 1987 1 21 [ 2 ]
AUS Greg Norman November 29, 1987 October 29, 1988 49 110
ESP Severiano Ballesteros October 30, 1988 November 5, 1988 1 22
AUS Greg Norman November 6, 1988 November 12, 1988 1 111
ESP Severiano Ballesteros November 13, 1988 March 25, 1989 19 41
AUS Greg Norman March 26, 1989 April 1, 1989 1 112
ESP Severiano Ballesteros April 2, 1989 August 19, 1989 20 61
AUS Greg Norman August 20, 1989 September 1, 1990 54 166
4 ENG Nick Faldo September 2, 1990 October 13, 1990 6 6
AUS Greg Norman October 14, 1990 February 2, 1991 16 182
ENG Nick Faldo February 3, 1991 April 6, 1991 9 15
5 WAL Ian Woosnam April 7, 1991 March 21, 1992 50 50
6 USA Fred Couples March 22, 1992 March 28, 1992 1 1
ENG Nick Faldo March 29, 1992 April 4, 1992 1 16
USA Fred Couples April 5, 1992 July 18, 1992 15 16
ENG Nick Faldo July 19, 1992 February 5, 1994 81 97
AUS Greg Norman February 6, 1994 August 13, 1994 27 209
7 ZWE Nick Price August 14, 1994 June 17, 1995 44 44
AUS Greg Norman June 18, 1995 April 19, 1997 96 305
8 USA Tom Lehman April 20, 1997 April 26, 1997 1 1
AUS Greg Norman April 27, 1997 June 14, 1997 7 312
9 USA Tiger Woods June 15, 1997 June 21, 1997 1 1
10 ZAF Ernie Els June 22, 1997 June 28, 1997 1 1
AUS Greg Norman June 29, 1997 July 5, 1997 1 313
USA Tiger Woods July 6, 1997 September 6, 1997 9 10
AUS Greg Norman September 7, 1997 January 10, 1998 18 331
USA Tiger Woods January 11, 1998 April 11, 1998 13 23
ZAF Ernie Els April 12, 1998 May 9, 1998 4 5
USA Tiger Woods May 10, 1998 May 16, 1998 1 24
ZAF Ernie Els May 17, 1998 June 13, 1998 4 9
USA Tiger Woods June 14, 1998 March 27, 1999 41 65
11 USA David Duval March 28, 1999 July 3, 1999 14 14
USA Tiger Woods July 4, 1999 August 7, 1999 5 70
USA David Duval August 7, 1999 August 14, 1999 1 15
USA Tiger Woods August 15, 1999 September 4, 2004 264 334
12 FJI Vijay Singh September 5, 2004 March 5, 2005 26 26
USA Tiger Woods March 6, 2005 March 19, 2005 2 336
FJI Vijay Singh March 20, 2005 April 9, 2005 3 29
USA Tiger Woods April 10, 2005 May 21, 2005 6 342
FJI Vijay Singh May 22, 2005 June 11, 2005 3 32 [ 3 ]
USA Tiger Woods June 12, 2005 October 30, 2010 281 (record) 623 (record) [ 4 ]
13 ENG Lee Westwood October 31, 2010 February 26, 2011 17 17 [ 4 ] [ 5 ]
14 DEU Martin Kaymer * February 27, 2011 Present 8 8

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I like Luke generally and just love watching him play around the green. If you had to pick someone to get up and down for your life, he'd be at the top of my shortlist. Also seem to remember reading that under the new MIT "putts gained per round" methodology he's the best putter on tour by some distance. I have no problem with a guy becoming #1 by playing consistently well in "ordinary" tournaments and -- when you look at how he dominated the Matchplay this year -- it's hard to argue he doesn't have the credentials to take on anyone else in the world any time.

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Originally Posted by jamoΒ 

If my eyes aren't deceiving me, David Duval was the only golfer before Westwood to reach #1 without already having won a major. He did win one two years later though.Β 

Β 

EDIT: Scratch that. Couples also. He became number one a few weeks before his Masters win. I saw march 1992 next to his name and assumed the Masters was early that year or something. Sorry for butchering this thread. Β 

#

Country

Player

Start date

End date

Number of weeks

Accumulated total

Ref.

1

Β FRG

Bernhard Langer

April 6, 1986

April 26, 1986

3

3

[1]

2

Β ESP

Severiano Ballesteros

April 27, 1986

September 13, 1986

20

20

Β 

3

Β AUS

Greg Norman

September 14, 1986

November 16, 1987

61

61

Β 

Β 

Β ESP

Severiano Ballesteros

November 22, 1987

November 28, 1987

1

21

[2]

Β 

Β AUS

Greg Norman

November 29, 1987

October 29, 1988

49

110

Β 

Β 

Β ESP

Severiano Ballesteros

October 30, 1988

November 5, 1988

1

22

Β 

Β 

Β AUS

Greg Norman

November 6, 1988

November 12, 1988

1

111

Β 

Β 

Β ESP

Severiano Ballesteros

November 13, 1988

March 25, 1989

19

41

Β 

Β 

Β AUS

Greg Norman

March 26, 1989

April 1, 1989

1

112

Β 

Β 

Β ESP

Severiano Ballesteros

April 2, 1989

August 19, 1989

20

61

Β 

Β 

Β AUS

Greg Norman

August 20, 1989

September 1, 1990

54

166

Β 

4

Β ENG

Nick Faldo

September 2, 1990

October 13, 1990

6

6

Β 

Β 

Β AUS

Greg Norman

October 14, 1990

February 2, 1991

16

182

Β 

Β 

Β ENG

Nick Faldo

February 3, 1991

April 6, 1991

9

15

Β 

5

Β WAL

Ian Woosnam

April 7, 1991

March 21, 1992

50

50

Β 

6

Β USA

Fred Couples

March 22, 1992

March 28, 1992

1

1

Β 

Β 

Β ENG

Nick Faldo

March 29, 1992

April 4, 1992

1

16

Β 

Β 

Β USA

Fred Couples

April 5, 1992

July 18, 1992

15

16

Β 

Β 

Β ENG

Nick Faldo

July 19, 1992

February 5, 1994

81

97

Β 

Β 

Β AUS

Greg Norman

February 6, 1994

August 13, 1994

27

209

Β 

7

Β ZWE

Nick Price

August 14, 1994

June 17, 1995

44

44

Β 

Β 

Β AUS

Greg Norman

June 18, 1995

April 19, 1997

96

305

Β 

8

Β USA

Tom Lehman

April 20, 1997

April 26, 1997

1

1

Β 

Β 

Β AUS

Greg Norman

April 27, 1997

June 14, 1997

7

312

Β 

9

Β USA

Tiger Woods

June 15, 1997

June 21, 1997

1

1

Β 

10

Β ZAF

Ernie Els

June 22, 1997

June 28, 1997

1

1

Β 

Β 

Β AUS

Greg Norman

June 29, 1997

July 5, 1997

1

313

Β 

Β 

Β USA

Tiger Woods

July 6, 1997

September 6, 1997

9

10

Β 

Β 

Β AUS

Greg Norman

September 7, 1997

January 10, 1998

18

331

Β 

Β 

Β USA

Tiger Woods

January 11, 1998

April 11, 1998

13

23

Β 

Β 

Β ZAF

Ernie Els

April 12, 1998

May 9, 1998

4

5

Β 

Β 

Β USA

Tiger Woods

May 10, 1998

May 16, 1998

1

24

Β 

Β 

Β ZAF

Ernie Els

May 17, 1998

June 13, 1998

4

9

Β 

Β 

Β USA

Tiger Woods

June 14, 1998

March 27, 1999

41

65

Β 

11

Β USA

David Duval

March 28, 1999

July 3, 1999

14

14

Β 

Β 

Β USA

Tiger Woods

July 4, 1999

August 7, 1999

5

70

Β 

Β 

Β USA

David Duval

August 7, 1999

August 14, 1999

1

15

Β 

Β 

Β USA

Tiger Woods

August 15, 1999

September 4, 2004

264

334

Β 

12

Β FJI

Vijay Singh

September 5, 2004

March 5, 2005

26

26

Β 

Β 

Β USA

Tiger Woods

March 6, 2005

March 19, 2005

2

336

Β 

Β 

Β FJI

Vijay Singh

March 20, 2005

April 9, 2005

3

29

Β 

Β 

Β USA

Tiger Woods

April 10, 2005

May 21, 2005

6

342

Β 

Β 

Β FJI

Vijay Singh

May 22, 2005

June 11, 2005

3

32

[3]

Β 

Β USA

Tiger Woods

June 12, 2005

October 30, 2010

281 (record)

623Β (record)

[4]

13

Β ENG

Lee Westwood

October 31, 2010

February 26, 2011

17

17

[4][5]

14

Β DEU

Martin Kaymer*

February 27, 2011

Present

8

8

Β 


Plenty of factoids to discover from that timetable...

  • Langer, Ballesteros, Woosnam, Lehman, Westwood, and Kaymer never ascended to number one on the strength of a victory that week.
  • Norman made it a habit in the late 1980s to steal the top spot in the rankings by winning tournaments in Australia as Ballesteros shut down for the winter.
  • The '92 British Open was the first time a player made it to number one by winning a major. It has happened three more times since ('94 PGA, '99 PGA, '05 Masters).
  • Woosnam and Couples both ascended to number one the week prior to a major, then cemented their rankings by winning that major on their first week at the top. (For both, it was the Masters, and the two occurrences came in consecutive years.)

In my UnderArmour Links stand bag...

Driver: '07 Burner 9.5Β° (stiff graphite shaft)
Woods: SasQuatch 17Β° 4-Wood (stiff graphite shaft)
Hybrid: 4DX Ironwood 20Β° (stiff graphite shaft)Irons/Wedges: Apex Edge 3-PW, GW, SW (stiff shaft); Carnoustie 60Β° LWPutter: Rossa AGSI+ Corzina...

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Originally Posted by Chilli Dipper

Wait a second, though. This is Luke Donald we're talking about. The namesake of the syndrome befalling underachieving professionals, the embodiment of the modern player who earns fame, fortune, and prestige without actually winning anything. Certainly, this man is not worthy of the honor that awaits him should he emerge victorious at Hilton Head...or is he?


Feb 2011 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship

May 2010 Madrid Masters

These threads are getting boring. Why don't someone come up with a better system for the OWGR instead of just complaining about the existing one?

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well, if a 5'9" short hitter can get to number one in the world it may change some opinions of where the game is heading

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  • Administrator

Originally Posted by Zeph

These threads are getting boring. Why don't someone come up with a better system for the OWGR instead of just complaining about the existing one?


I don't see a problem with the OWGR. I also don't really care much about #1. It's only really relevant when Tiger loses it - a few months ago due to not winning or playing much, and then the time before that when Vijay Singh took it by winning like 27 tournaments in one year. :-)

The OWGR matters a lot more at various other points - top 50 get into majors, for example - and those kinds of things are never talked about. They must be pretty good, then...

  • Upvote 1

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    • This is a loooooong winded narrative so if you don't like long stories, move on.Β πŸ˜‰ Our senior club typically gets about 25 new members each year. We lose about 25 members each year for various reasons (moved to FL/AZ, disabled, dead, too expensive). Of the new members, usually 20 have an active GHIN handicap. About 5 each year do not have a GHIN handicap. When they join our club, we give each member a state association membership that includes GHIN handicapping services. We play a series of handicapped tournaments over the summer. When we sign up a new member who does not have a GHIN handicap, we attempt to give them an estimated index until they have sufficient scores posted to have an actual GHIN index.Β  Our first event typically is around May 15 so, in theory, a new member has about 6 weeks to post a few scores. Posting season in the Mitten starts April 1. Inevitably, several of the unhandicapped individuals seemΒ  to either not play until the first tournament or can't figure out how to enter scores (hey, they are seniors). That situation then leads to my contacting the new member and asking a series of questions: a. Did you ever have a GHIN handicap? If yes, which State and do you recall what it was? b. Do you have an alternate handicap through a non-GHIN handicap service or a league? c. What do you think your average score was last year (for 9 or 18) d. What was your best score last year? Where did you play and which tee was used? e. What do you consider a very good score for yourself? Based on their responses I attempt to give them an index that makes them competitive in the first couple events BUT does not allow them to win their flight in the first couple events. We don't want the new members to finish last and at the same time, we don't want someone with a "20" playing handicap to win the third flight with a net 57. In the event some new member did shoot a net 57, we also advise everyone that we can and will adjust handicaps retroactively when it is clear to us that a member's handicap does not accurately reflect their potential. We don't like to adjust things retroactively and in the 8 years I have chaired the Handicap Committee, we have only done it once. So here are the questions to the mob: Any ideas how to do this better? Any questions one might ask an unhandicapped individual to better estimate their index/handicap? Would it be reasonable to have a new player play once (or more?) without being eligible to place in the money?
    • Wordle 1,013 4/6 ⬜🟨⬜🟨🟨 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
    • Awesome! I got that a while back with my start word! Wordle 1,013 4/6 ⬜⬜🟨⬜🟨 ⬜🟨⬜🟩⬜ ⬜⬜🟩🟩🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
    • Wordle 1,013 4/6* ⬜🟨⬜🟨🟨 🟨🟨⬜🟨⬜ 🟨🟨🟨⬜🟨 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
    • Wordle 1,013 3/6 🟩⬜🟨⬜🟨 🟩🟨⬜🟨⬜ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
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