Newly crowned world No.1 Lee Westwood is coming to terms with the fact that he can call himself 'the best golfer on the planet'.
Westwood, 37, has been threatening to capture top spot for several months after a poor season from Tiger Woods, who previously held the ranking for an extraordinary 281 consecutive weeks.
The 14-time major winner's dethroning became inevitable after he exited the end-of-season FedEx Cup play-offs.
Just when Westwood appeared assured of seizing the top ranking, Germany's Martin Kaymer emerged as a contender to leapfrog the Englishman at the top of the pile. But finishing outside the top two at the Andalucia Masters in Valderrama ended Kaymer's attempted coup and left Westwood celebrating the fulfilment of a life-long ambition.
"It's a dream (that) everyone has to say there is nobody better than me at the moment," Westwood said. "You have to say it's a highlight. It's a great honour and a big responsibility. It certainly sounds and feels good right now."
"When you are growing up and people say 'what do you want to achieve?', everyone says 'I want to be the best in the world'. Right at this moment I can show people the world rankings and say I am the best on the planet."
NZPGA Golf Professional Andrew Whiley from Dunedin has compiled a Top 25 New Zealand Golf Course Ranking for 2010. Whiley believes this ranking is the most extensive ranking of New Zealand golf courses undertaken. With 35 respondents from NZPGA Golf Professionals, Tour Professionals, Golf Travel operators to one of New Zealand’s leading Golf Course Architects, this is a true overall ranking of New Zealand golf courses from New Zealand industry leaders. A requirement was that the respondents had to have either played or walked over the golf courses they were ranking.
The Top 15: 1 Wairakei, 2 Kauri Cliffs, 3 Kinloch, 4 Cape Kidnappers 5 Paraparaumu,
6 Jacks Point 7 The Hills, 8 Titirangi, 9 Auckland, 10 Wellington (Heretaunga) 11 Gulf Harbour, 13 Clearwater, 14 Millbrook: 15 New Plymouth
New Zealand has achieved their best finish for nearly two decades at the World Amateur Men’s Team Golf Championship in Argentina this month.
The trio of Ryan Fox, Ben Campbell and Peter Spearman-Burn shot a final round five-over 149 in strong and cold winds to finish fourth overall at Buenos Aires Golf Club.
Their performance is the best in the Eisenhower Trophy since New Zealand’s victory in 1992.
France claimed the Eisenhower Trophy for the first time on seven-under par after losing the lead mid-round to Denmark who saw their chances blown away in the strong winds. They eventually finished runners-up four shots back and only one in front of third placed USA.
New Zealand were fourth on five-over, a shot ahead of defending champions Scotland with a further three shots back to Ireland in sixth.
World Travel Awards Names the Luxury Paihia Beach Resort & Spa New Zealand's Leading Spa Resort
This exclusive spa resort located beachfront in historic Paihia, features a 20 metre heated swimming pool, large Jacuzzi and four outdoor therapeutic light hot pools. Private sauna, private steam rooms and La Spa Naturale; an international standard Day and Hair Spa offering a full range of beauty and hair treatments, massages specialising in New Zealand organic products, and Vichy & Fusion showers. Recently the hotel went through a multi-million dollar inspired and stylish transformation and sets a new benchmark in international luxury for Paihia and New Zealand.