Will Woods let go the No.1 spot?

Reporting by Rajlakshmi Retesh

March 6, 2014: He is number one today, but may not be so by the end of Sunday. There is huge speculation that if Tiger Woods does not end up within top six at WGC-Cadillac Championship, he will slip from the coveted ranking. And who could gain? Adam Scott. Woods will take on aspirant Scott at Doral this week, to uphold his No.1 status.

There are many predictions and golf gurus are putting them out in full swing. As most are factoring in that Woods is returning after nursing a back injury, which prompted his exit in the final rounds of Honda Classic, just a week before.

[highlight] You have to win golf tournaments to get there and you have to be pretty consistent, Woods spoke on being No. 1 in the world [/highlight]

Channel world-rankings guru Alan Robison goes first to state the facts. He reportedly told AFP, “Adam Scott likely would move to world No. 1 for the first time in his career if he wins this week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship and Woods finishes outside the top 5-7.

For Scott, there is nothing to lose. Giving victory a shot is the best he can do. The 33-year-old Australian, who already achieved one dream by becoming the first Aussie to capture the coveted green jacket with his triumph last year at Augusta National, would not like to miss another of taking the top ranking.

“It’s impossible not to think about it,” said Scott. “It would be a dream come true to make it to that point,” Australian was speaking to media before WGC-Cadillac.

However, the big question is whether Woods will easily let it happen? Woods, who finally put to rest all the media speculations over his participation, spoke to the press to confirm his availability.

Woods admitted being No.1 was a mantle he was extremely pleased to hold, having done so for a record 673 weeks of his career.

It feels good, because you have to earn it,” Woods was quoted  at Doral.

“You have to win golf tournaments to get there and you have to be pretty consistent.

“I have won, what, eight times in the last couple years to get back there, and that wasn’t an easy task, especially coming from outside the Top 50. To get to where I’m at is something I’m very proud of.”

Only 16 players have been privileged to hold No.1 position since rankings were introduced in 1986 with Greg Norman the only Australian (331 weeks).

Scott moved to world number two last August with a victory at The Barclays and is confident he has what it takes to win this week’s $1.53 million top prize.

[highlight]It is certainly a little bit sooner than I expected, said Scott [/highlight]

Coming only 11 months after his first major win, Scott admits the chance to become number one has arrived quicker than he anticipated.

“It is certainly a little bit sooner than I expected,” Scott said.