Golf

Westwood to replace Kaymer as world number one

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-04-25 09:38

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, South Carolina - Britain's Lee Westwood will replace Germany's Martin Kaymer as world number one when the new rankings are published on Monday after Luke Donald failed to win The Heritage on Sunday.

Although Westwood sealed a three-stroke victory at the Indonesian Masters earlier in the day, his compatriot Donald had the chance to take over at the top because the Heritage carries more ranking points than the Asian Tour event.

Donald held a one-shot lead going into the final round at Harbour Town Golf Links but lost a playoff for the title with American Brandt Snedeker at the third extra hole.

Westwood, who was world number one for 17 weeks after deposing Tiger Woods in November, will instead end Kaymer's brief eight-week reign at the top. The German did not play this week.

"It was going to be some big rewards if I won today," Englishman Donald told reporters after being beaten by Snedeker after three gripping holes in a sudden-death playoff.

"But I'll try and find the positives from this week and move on to next week. I came pretty close ... but I've still got some time on my side."

Donald, who claimed his third PGA Tour victory at the elite WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February, had been bidding to become the fourth world number one in less than six months.

"Certainly number one is not the final goal," the 33-year-old said. "It's a constant travel. You're constantly moving forward in this game. To be number one would be great, but it's not everything.

"It certainly would be a tick in the box and it would be something great to talk to the grandkids (about) in 30 years' time and say that you were the best in the world, but I still have a lot of chances to do that."

With former world number one Woods having lost the aura of dominance he once enjoyed, Donald was excited about the prospect of multiple changes at the top of the rankings.

"Certainly there are a lot of people who have a chance to be number one right now," he said. "I think it's a fun time in golf.

"Obviously Tiger dominated for a number of years and no one was close to him. But now it's a little bit more of a race ... that's kind of fun for the spectators."