August 4 — With many of the world’s best teeing it up at this week’s World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, it’s time for the seemingly unending question: Will second-ranked Phil Mickelson finally overtake Tiger Woods as the world’s best golfer, or will No. 3 Lee Westwood swoop in and disappoint Lefty once again?
Of course, if he can muster a modicum of his former magic on a Firestone Country Club that he has dominated, Woods could turn down the volume on all the noise about who might supplant him atop the world’s golf rankings.
Just do it. All Tiger has to do is win and he retains the top berth. A Mickelson victory — no matter how Woods plays — would dethrone Woods, who has been king of the hill for a record 270 consecutive events and a total of 612 weeks.
But — and here’s where it gets interesting for golf fans who could care less about Tiger or Phil — Westwood could climb to the top with a win this week, but only if Woods ends up no better than third place.
The PGATour.com’s Helen Ross suggested other ways in which Woods, whose lackluster (for him) 2010 play allows such speculation, could topple from his perch:
- For Mickelson to reign supreme — Phil must finish in fourth place alone, Woods lower than the top 37, and Westwood third or lower
- For Westwood to climb the ladder — The Englishman must finish in solo second, Mickelson no higher than runner-up, and Woods no higher than 10th
Anyone seen Phil’s game? Mickelson has had ample opportunity to wrest the wreath from Woods but has come up short each time. After winning his third Masters Tournament in April, Mickelson finished second at the Quail Hollow Championship and could take over the No. 1 spot with a top-five finish at the Players Championship
The 40-year-old Philster ended up in a tie for 17th at TPC Sawgrass, although Woods, as usual, garnered most of the headlines after he withdrew from the final round with a neck injury. The Crowne Plaza Invitational was even worse for Mickelson, who missed the cut.
Mickelson squandered other chances as well, when he finished in a fifth-place tie at the Memorial Tournament and a share of fourth at the U.S. Open, missed the cut at the Scottish Open, and struggled to a share of 48th at the British Open.
Perhaps Mickelson has had his eye on the prize instead of on each shot, because it’s clear he dearly wants to own that No. 1 slot.
“Absolutely,” he told reporters asking if it were important to him to be the world’s top-ranked golfer.
“It would be a very important thing,” Mickelson said during a press conference earlier this week at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J., to tout the PGA Tour’s first FedEx Cup playoff event, The Barclays. “But, again, it’s not something I’m focusing on as I am trying to get my game sharp for these upcoming events as well as the playoffs.”
Even so, Mickelson seemed to lower expectations for his play this week. “I don’t know exactly where my game is,” he said. “I didn’t play well in Europe. I’ve had two weeks off, so I haven’t really played great golf in six or seven weeks.”
Making the playoffs interesting. Beyond the tilt for No. 1, Woods needs to step up his game if he hopes to be a factor in the FedEx Cup playoffs, which start at The Barclays on August 26. Indeed, currently ranked 111th on the FedEx Cup points list, Woods must play better if he hopes to qualify to play in Boston’s Labor Day weekend staple, the Deutsche Bank Championship.
The top 100 points leaders will tee it up at the DB Championship, which benefits Woods’ own charitable foundation, possibly for the final time, as the bank itself has not yet committed to sponsor the event beyond this year.
Ryder Cup. Woods also stands at ninth on the Ryder Cup points list, which could present a dilemma for U.S. captain Corey Pavin. Pavin has said Woods would have to earn his way onto the team, before self-correcting and attesting that having Tiger in the scrum was a no-brainer.
Woods is the Bridgestone defending champ and has hoisted the trophy seven times. A win this week would be Tiger’s first since returning to the tour in April following his months-long, sex scandal-related hiatus.
Westwood hobbling. Westwood will be fighting more than the course and his opponents this week. The 37-year-old has been rehabbing an ankle injury that has limited his play and practice.
“I haven’t played much golf,” Westwood told reporters at Firestone on Tuesday. “I’m underprepared really, but still could play well.”
Westwood rated the ankle at about “six and a half, seven,” compared with a “five” during the Open, and said it causes little pain but swells up after daily exercise.
“It’s just uncomfortable, really,” he said. “It’s unfortunate because it’s not allowed me to practice as I’d like at this time of year or get in the gym and train. So I’m a bit behind schedule in regards to those things too.”
Like Mickelson, might Westwood be seeking to downplay his prospects entering Bridgestone?
Kim returning. After a three-month, injury-related break, Anthony Kim will test his surgically repaired thumb at Bridgestone. Hoping to prepare for next week’s PGA Championship at Whistling Straights, Kim said he planned to maintain a positive outlook while he tries to knock the rust off his game.
“I’m not sure how I’m going to play, but I’m going to come in with a good attitude, try to stay as patient as I can,” Kim said during a media meet-up Tuesday. “I know that’s going to be tough not having played for three months and probably will be a little rusty.”
(Emily Kay is a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly. Kay also writes the Boston Golf Examiner and National Golf Examiner blogs.)
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