Westwood closes gap on Woods

Lee Westwood had something to celebrate today even before he teed off in his Ryder Cup singles against Steve Stricker at Celtic Manor.

Westwood is now the world number two for the first time in his life – and he will end Tiger Woods’ five-year reign at the top if he finishes first or second at the Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland later this week.

Latest leading position in the world rankings:

1 Tiger Woods 8.86pts, 2 Lee Westwood 8.55, 3 Phil Mickelson 8.43, 4 Steve Stricker 7.70, 5 Jim Furyk 7.49, 6 Martin Kaymer 7.15, 7 Paul Casey 6.28, 8 Luke Donald 5.84, 9 Rory McIlroy 5.68, 10 Ernie Els 5.49

11 Matt Kuchar 5.30, 12 Dustin Johnson 5.02, 13 Graeme McDowell 4.88, 14 Edoardo Molinari 4.78, 15 Ian Poulter 4.74, 16 Hunter Mahan 4.70, 17 Retief Goosen 4.61, 18 Anthony Kim 4.20, 19 Louis Oosthuizen 4.13, 20 Zach Johnson 4.11

Other leading Europeans: 22 Padraig Harrington, 23 Justin Rose, 25 Miguel Angel Jimenez, 27 Ross Fisher, 32 Francesco Molinari, 39 Robert Karlsson, 41 Peter Hanson, 42 Henrik Stenson, 51 Alvaro Quiros, 56 Rhys Davies, 60 Sergio Garcia, 61 Martin Laird, 69 Oliver Wilson, 73 Fredrik Andersson Hed, 74 Simon Dyson, 78 David Horsey, 80 Stephen Gallacher, 84 Brian Davis, 85 Soren Kjeldsen, 89 Chris Wood, 93 Darren Clarke, 96 Danny Willett, 97 Anders Hansen, 99 Fredrik Jacobson