World #1 Future?

[USA 79S]

I am still trying to read and understand the World Rank System. Not doing well I might add.

If Tiger doesn't keep playing tournaments, and maybe enters the Majors only - How long can he survive as the world #1. Has he clinched this position for weeks, months or even years to come? It seems that every week everyone has a points value and that more people lose points than gain them on a weekly basis. Did Phil even make a significant dent by winning the Masters?

Not trying to start a pro or anti Tiger Woods thread here - just curious about how long before someone could potentially steal the throne.

[James_Black]

woods is 11.55
Phil is 9.04
Stricker 7.78

Unless phil is goes on a massive hot-streak and wins a couple of majors Tiger will be ok.

His average has gone down a lot though, I remember it was 18-21 before he hurt his knee.

[Zeph]

Tiger has played better on average after his knee problem, but he has not played as many events, his ranking also dropped a bit when he was away.

[FX(TM)]

Maybe if Phil wins a few majors, or a youngster starts winning everything, but I don't think it's going to happen. Tiger is going to carry on playing in a few tournaments this year, and probably win a couple if not more, so I don't think he's in danger of losing the #1 spot.

[michaeljames92]

Even if tiger is dethroned, everyone will still say he's the number 1 golfer.

[jamo]

Tiger has been in the top 10 nearly every time he play, and he has 6 wins in the past year. His position seems fine

[BC24]

As much as I would like to see Tiger knocked off the top spot I do not see it happening anytime soon. Phil has been bouncing back and forth from 2nd to 3rd lately and has never really made a strong charge for #1.

[sonicblue]

Think of it this way, when Phil wins, you will almost always see Tiger finishing somewhere in the top 10, if not top 3. Conversely, a lot of times, when Tiger wins, Phil is somewhere 15-25. Put another way, Tiger simply finishes high in nearly every tournament he enters, and wins 5, 6, 7 times per year. That's why Tiger is #1. A good year for Phil is 3 wins with some very low finishes sprinkled in. That's why he's not #1.

[USA 79S]

Good input - I was using the wikipedia(sp) site to try and learn how it all works, anyone know a better source?

Seems interesting that these positions aren't as fluid as say the World Tennis Rankings. It's great that someone can get to the top and stay there, but also sad that even the World #3 player might not even consider the possibility of reaching the #1 spot as realistic. Even worse for the fans who like most here stated pretty much write off the thought of there fav's moving up on top one day.

[plugged]

Even worse for the fans who like most here stated pretty much write off the thought of there fav's moving up on top one day.

Their favs can easily move to No. 1. They just have to win more AND win more consistently at high-profile tournaments than Tiger.

[ElWagonne]

Rankings are a Catch-22....granted guys need to win more, but tournaments get a point boost by Tiger's presence. And since he's finished pretty high every time he tees one up, he'll be safe for a while.

[Chilli Dipper]

Basically, there are only three players who did well enough in 2009 to have any chance of dethroning Tiger this year: Mickelson, Westwood, and Stricker. Any of the three would need at least three wins in 2010, including a major and a WGC/Players, steady play in the other marquee tournaments, and a poor year from Tiger (two wins or less, no majors/Players/WGCs) to get there. Once that 2008 US Open falls off the timeline, there's a opportunity for someone to make a move to the top.

[Woters]

I simply can't believe that Lefty has NEVER been the worlds number 1 even when Tiger was off for surgery, the guys too good NOT to have been the top player at least for a few weeks.

[James_Black]

I simply can't believe that Lefty has NEVER been the worlds number 1 even when Tiger was off for surgery, the guys too good NOT to have been the top player at least for a few weeks.

they're not consistently good enough though, that's the problem.

[michaeljames92]

Just read an article about Tiger on the PGAtour website that was apparently posted on Tiger's own site also. The last paragraph in that story I found to be rather interesting. "I took a little time off after the Masters to go scuba diving and spend time with my family. But I did enjoy a fun round of golf with my friend John Cook at Isleworth Country Club. I double-eagled the par-5 17th hole -- the third of my life -- with a 5-wood and shot 63, so my game is improving. "
(PGATOUR.com)
I'd say having an Albatross is a pretty good feat. He reckons he's had 3. That is a serious effort.

[Cussin hacker]

I have trouble understanding the ranking system myself. I posted a question on the Sergio thread about it. How is it that he is ranked at 23 in the world with how he's played for 2 plus years? It's a confusing system for sure. For me anyway.

[billysandy]

In 5 years, i see Anthony Kim at number 1 in the world rankings. I can't see Tiger off the number 1 spot till he's 38 years old.

[James_Black]

I have trouble understanding the ranking system myself. I posted a question on the Sergio thread about it. How is it that he is ranked at 23 in the world with how he's played for 2 plus years? It's a confusing system for sure. For me anyway.

He played brilliant in 2008 and that's brought up his average.

How do you think Padraig Harrington is 11th?