YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (AP) - Tiger Woods says it was no surprise to lose golf’s No. 1 ranking to England’s Lee Westwood after struggling through a disappointing year.
Westwood claimed the top spot Sunday to end a record run by Woods, who had been the world’s No. 1 golfer for 281 consecutive weeks.
“As far as the world ranking is concerned, yes, I’m not ranked No. 1 in the world,” Woods said Monday. “In order to do that you have to win and I didn’t win this year.”
Woods played an exhibition at Yokohama Country Club on Monday against Japanese teenager Ryo Ishikawa. He is preparing for the HSBC Championship in Shanghai, which starts Thursday at Sheshan International.
Woods had been No. 1 since the week before the 2005 U.S. Open, where he was runner-up. He won the British Open a month later and his ranking had rarely been threatened since.
That changed this year when Woods struggled through his worst season on and off the course. He took a five-month break from golf to cope with confessions of extramarital affairs, which ultimately led to divorce, and his game has not been the same.
Woods said he was doing his best to adjust to no longer being No. 1.
“As far as the emotions go, it is what it is,” Woods said. “To become No. 1 you have to win and win a lot to maintain it. That’s the way it goes.”
Westwood is followed in the rankings by Woods, PGA champion Martin Kaymer, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker.
With three more events remaining this year, Woods said he hopes to turn things around.
“I’ve got three more events this year and, hopefully, I can end on a good note,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to these events and hopefully they will spearhead into a better 2011.”
Westwood earned the top ranking after PGA champion Kaymer failed to finish among the top two at the Andalucia Masters in Spain. He is the first European since Nick Faldo in 1994 to be No. 1 and the 13th to sit on top since the ranking system began in 1986.
The Englishman’s reign could be short lived.
The HSBC Champions has assembled such a strong field that Westwood, Woods, Kaymer and Mickelson each have a shot at becoming No. 1 by the end of the week. Mickelson is defending champion.
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