Martin Kaymer of Germany jumps to the top of World Golf Rankings – PGA Tour update
The World Golf Rankings have changed after the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Tour Accenture Match Play Championships concluded yesterday in Arizona as Martin Kaymer of Germany became the number one professional golfer in the world. This has been a spectacular show by the European Tour member who gained form in recent years playing on the European Tour.
The German who is just 26 years old, took over from his Ryder Cup partner, Lee Westwood, as number one. He only had to become a finalist in the Accenture Match Play to gain points and lead the list of golf rankings. Kaymer played against Englishman, Luke Donald, in the final and lost by a margin of three down with two holes to play. Donald beat Kaymer and became the Accenture Match Play champion this year.
Last year, Kaymer won the PGA Championship against American, Bubba Watson, in a play-off. They both tied the first hole but it was Kaymer who made a bogey and won the second play-off hole to lift the title. Kaymer’s fellow countryman Bernhard Langer was the first German in 1986 who topped the list of golf rankings and was number one for a few weeks.
This week has been superb for the Europeans who are placed among the top four. Donald also jumped six places in his rankings to number three after winning the WGC Accenture Match Play. This is the best ranking the Englishman has had in his career until now.
With both Ryder Cup members, Kaymer and Westwood, switching their rankings at the top and Donald also moving in to the third spot and Grame McDowell occupying fourth place. top four golfers are from Europe. This has not happened in the last 19 years.
In 1992, European golfers enjoyed such a ride when the top four were Ian Woosnam, Nick Faldo, José Maria Olazábal and Seve Ballesteros. All these four players have been among the legends of golf and promoted the sport throughout the world.
Kaymer said in his interview before the match, “I definitely need some time to think about it and let it sink in – the good thing is next week I don’t have a tournament.” The European Tour member said that he feels very proud to become the world number one after the veteran German golfer Bernhard Langer. His family was also over-whelmed after Kaymer achieved such a milestone.
He turned professional in 2005 and became a European Tour member. Since then, he has marked nine wins on the European Tour and had only a single PGA Tour win under his belt. His debut was on the European Challenge Tour where he performed exceedingly well. Kaymer will also become the second youngest player to top the rankings after former World Number one, Tiger Woods, who was just 21.
Kaymer hopes he will retain his number one spot for the next couple of weeks. Kaymer won his first European Tour in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship this year and is up for the challenge to retain his ranking.
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