How long can Tiger Woods maintain his world number one ranking without playing in any tournaments?

Question

How long can Tiger Woods maintain his world number one ranking without playing in any tournaments?

Answer 1

It all depends on who wins tournaments while he's out. if all of a sudden we see Phil, Vijay, Adam Scott, or Furyk raking up win after win then it's possible that one of them could close the gap (even though I feel that a golfer would have to win at least eight events -- including the final two majors as well as the Fed Ex cup to overtake Tiger as #1).

But the trend seems to be small to no-name golfers winning tournaments. And if that continues, Tiger's #1 ranking is in no danger.

Answer 2

10 years plus

Answer 3

So long as no one surpasses his accomplishments over a two year period, he will be considered # 1. If Sergio, Phil, Vijay, Westwood and others make  the grade they will have to play extraordinary golf to become # 1.

Answer 4

The World Ranking is calculated over a 2-year period, so it is highly unlikely that Woods would lose his ranking barring something unusual happening.

Unless Woods went deep into 2009 without playing, and then didn't do well in the 2009 USPGA, and late-year WGC events, his ranking "might" fall.  But then, you'd have to have someone win a boatload of tournaments (Vijay Singh did this in 2004), perform well (if not win) in the majors.  

If Mickelson (current #2) were to win the Open Championship and the USPGA, AND the WGC event at Firestone, that would be three big point gains over Woods (Woods won 2 of the 3 last year).

In the Spring...Mickelson would need to win the Buick, plus the Matchplay (events Woods won last year), plus 'defend' his own wins last year, and at a minimum, a top-5 finish in the US Masters, and come the US Open, finish top-5 (or win), and hope Woods is rusty and finishes poorly.  

Under this scenario, it would be close.  Very close.  But realistically, is Mickelson really capable of going on this kind of run, or are we about to see a 2003-type year with a couple of little-known players winning the last two majors?