Tiger is This Year’s Number One Golfer

Okay.  I know I’m not stirring up much controversy here, but I do have a fun toy to share.  I wrote a couple of weeks ago that Tiger would likely hold the number one ranking for most of this year, but that someone might be able to take it in the last couple of months.

I would like to now take that statement back.  For someone to be a “Challenger” this year, as defined in my last post, they would need to hold the top spot for ten weeks.  That isn’t going to happen.

The Numbers

I put together a spreadsheet that lets you enter the year and week for any point after the British Open.  Assuming Tiger has not played, it will show you his projected score for that week.  What does it show us?  Simple, in week 43 of this year, Tiger will have a score of 14.73.  Looking at the World Golf Rankings, that is five points higher than the current number two, Phil Mickelson at 9.64.

In fact, Tiger won’t drop below Phil’s score until Week 8 of 2009.  That is the end of February.  Tiger won’t drop below 10 until Valentines Day.

Now if Phil isn’t up to the job, there is still the matter of who will step up next.  Who knows?  There are still 5-6months of golf to play before we can expect someone to charge.  Don’t get me wrong, somebody can go on a tear and claim the top spot by year’s end. Tiger will be down to 11.66 in 2009, which is achievable.  It will take somebody stepping forward and not everybody taking turns winning.

Let’s see if the PGA Championship can clarify things at all.

Who Will Be The Next Golf World Points Leader?

I don’t follow golf very much. I usually turn in to the The Open Championship, aka the British Open (love the bunkers). I also tune in when someone is about to do something historic, like Greg Norman challenging at The Open Championship in 2008 or Tiger in a playoff on only one knee.

Which brings us to the big question, who is the next number one? Tiger still holds the spot, even after not playing for a month. The results of the The Open Championship are unlikely to change the leader board, except to bring Tiger closer to the pack.

If you look at the current standings, Phil Mickelson is best positioned to take the spot. I have my doubts about his ability to pull it off. He isn’t doing well at the British this weekend. He cleared the cut by two strokes, but was eight strokes back with a +8. He then hit 6 over the last two days and should finish well out of it.

After Phil, it is wide open. Whoever wants it more can take it, so it will be interesting to see.

A Historical Look

Grabbing numbers of weeks in the top spot, I’ve thrown a little graphic showing the Leaders (most weeks at #1), Challengers (10+ weeks or 2 times at #1), and Notables (at least one week at #1) per year. It isn’t meant to show the best player each year, but to give an indication of dominance in the golfing world.