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Top of the Heap
By Dennis de Jesus Jr.
GolfWRX Contributor
Since late 2010, the world’s No. 1 position has changed a handful of times, giving golf’s most accomplished tour players not named after a zoo animal bragging rights as the best player in the world. For the casual fan, the race for the top may not be as exciting since names like Kaymer, Westwood and Donald might not hold much attention. But let’s be honest, we were spoiled for many years knowing without the need of official statistics and rankings who the number one golfer in the world was (the one named after the zoo animal).
But it looks like casual interest in that top spot will increase again. With his victory at The Honda Classic, Rory McIlroy is the newest King of the Hill and at the age of 22, the second youngest to ever hold the position (Tiger Woods was 21). It is another notch in the young Northern Irishman’s career, who many believe to be golf’s next great megastar. And the youth movement doesn’t stop there – players like Hunter Mahan, Dustin Johnson and Jason Day all hope to make a case for the top spot in the coming years while seasoned veterans like Steve Stricker, Luke Donald and Lee Westwood still remain within close reach of No. 1.
Here is a reminder of who has held the top spot in World Golf Rankings since 2005:
Tiger Woods (Jun 2005 – Oct 2010) 281 weeks
Lee Westwood (Oct 2010 – Feb 2011) 17 weeks
Martin Kaymer (Feb 2011 – Apr 2011) 8 weeks
Lee Westwood (Apr 2011 – May 2011) 5 weeks
Luke Donald (May 2011 – Mar 2012) 40 weeks
Rory McIlroy (Mar 2012 – present)
Obviously, Tiger Woods was the man for many years and in fact held the spot for a large percentage of time from 1998-2005 as well. He literally dominated the game and had the stats and tournament earnings to prove it. Much of the rankings discussion during those years defaulted to the race for No. 2, because unseating Tiger was always a difficult challenge anyways, almost as if it was the fifth major. As a fan, it would be something to say that he remained at the top through the twilight of his PGA career, but we all know that would be near impossible and there would be a time when a hungry younger generation (many of whom have modeled their game after Tiger to some degree) needed to make some noise themselves. Perhaps Rory’s climb to the top is just the start of this new wave.
We may not statistically see Tiger at the top anymore, but I don’t think it really matters – letting the game grow through a young, high-profile player like Rory can definitely build the fanbase and maybe give the next generation of young amateur golfers a genuine and strong role model to look up to, much like Jack did for Tiger and what Tiger has done for Rory.
Click here for more discussion in the “Tour Talk” forum.
Read more from Dennis at www.dennisdejesusjr.com
Or follow him on twitter @jugojr
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Morning 9: Rory: I’m not joining LIV | Masters ratings | Nelly: We just need a stage
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 RBC Heritage
GolfWRX is on site this week at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island for the RBC Heritage. Plenty of golfers who competed in the Masters last week will be making the quick turnaround in the Lowcountry of South Carolina as the Heritage is again one of the Tour’s Signature Events.
We have general albums for you to check out, as well as plenty of WITBs — including Justin Thomas and Justin Rose.
We’ll continue to update as more photos flow in from SC.
Check out links to all our photos, below.
General Albums
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Monday #2
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #1
- 2024 RBC Heritage – Tuesday #2
WITB Albums
- Justin Thomas – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Rose – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Chandler Phillips – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Nick Dunlap – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Thomas Detry – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Austin Eckroat – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Jason Day – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Will Zalatoris – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Patrick Cantlay – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Ludvig Aberg – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Collin Morikawa – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Sam Burns – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Stephen Jaeger – WITB – 2024 RBC Heritage
Pullout Albums
- Wyndham Clark’s Odyssey putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- JT’s new Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Justin Thomas testing new Titleist 2 wood – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey putter with triple track alignment aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Scotty Cameron The Blk Box putting alignment aid/training aid – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Cameron putter – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Odyssey Ai One Eleven T putters – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Christian Bezuidenhout – testing new Callaway Ti 340 mini driver – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Rory McIlroy testing the new TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver Copper – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Xander Schauffele testing the Callaway Ti 340 mini driver & the DUW – 2024 RBC Heritage
- Byeong Hun An, two new L.A.B. Golf putter builds with “T” alignment – 2024 RBC Heritage
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
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Morning 9: Aberg: I want to be No. 1 | Rory’s management blasts ‘fake news’ reports
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Lauren Conrad
Mar 7, 2012 at 2:01 am
So glad there’s a new champ in town. Hopefully he remains a good role model for the throngs of young people who follow him. I watched him at the Waste Management Open a couple years ago and thought a St. Paddy’s day pub crawl had invaded the otherwise quiet and civilized confines of the greens. It was refreshing. McIlroy yields large crowds. Too easy…next! LC