Tiger Woods loses golf top spot to Lee Westwood

England’s Lee Westwood became world number one golfer for the first time, ending American Tiger Woods’s 281-week reign at the top of the sport. German Martin Kaymer needed a top-two finish at Valderrama to become number one himself but ended Sunday’s fourth round seven over – well off the lead.  Kaymer fired a final-round 75 to finish 10 shots behind winner Graeme McDowell, reports BBC News .
Westwood, 37, becomes Europe’s first number one golfer since compatriot Nick Faldo achieved the feat in 1994.  Kaymer, the USPGA champion, had started the day nine shots adrift of leader Graeme McDowell after opening with a 72 on Thursday and following that with a 75 and a third round 70.
The 25-year-old, therefore, required a sensational effort on Sunday to move up the leaderboard and claim top spot. But despite a birdie on the third Kaymer showed little of his recent fine form and ended the day four over par.
“Of course I’m disappointed,” said Kaymer “I thought if I had a fast weekend I could still play a role but I missed too many putts.
“You have to accept it isn’t your week. I don’t think trying to get to number one played any part.  It was in the back of my mind but I didn’t play differently, any more aggressively or defensively. I liked the challenge and I think I’ll have another chance in the next few weeks. Lee deserves it, he’s one of the greatest guys on the European Tour.”
For Woods it is a remarkable fall from grace having at one time seemed unstoppable in his assault on Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major wins.
He has faltered badly after a knee injury and revelations about his personal life that saw him take an extended break from the game.
Westwood, who has yet to win a major, is currently recovering from a calf problem but intends to return at next week’s WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, where he will face Woods as well as Kaymer and Phil Mickelson.
The Englishman’s career has been in two phases, he spent 180 weeks in the top-10 between 1998 and 2001, winning the Order of Merit in 2000 and reaching world number four.