Luke Donald becomes No. 1 the right way

Luke Donald at April's PGA Tour stop, The Heritage, at Harbour Town Golf Links. Photo courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune News Service.

Just over a month ago, Lee Westwood reclaimed the No. 1 world ranking after a tournament in Asia.

His compatriot Luke Donald settled for No. 2 after losing in a playoff that same week.

Westwood's field was much weaker compared to the PGA Tour event at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C. that Donald faced.

However, Donald is now the new No. 1, becoming the third different player to take over the top spot following Tiger Woods' fall from grace.

Woods has plummeted to No. 13, and doubts as to when he'll tee it up again. Injuries took him out of The Players Championship after just nine holes.

Donald usurped Westwood in the best possible scenario - against one another.

There was no, I won this tournament while you played in that tournament scenario.

Instead, both players teed it up at Wentworth for the European Tour's PGA Championship.

Donald prevailed in a sudden-death playoff.

He's the new No. 1, and it's the way it's supposed to be - decided on the links.

The field wins Masters poll

So, the majority of votes (75 percent) say the rest of the field will don the green jacket after a victory in this week's Masters.

Here's who the other choices were:

• Phil Mickelson is a popular pick among the experts, especially after his win last week in Houston. He's using two drivers like he did to win the Masters in 2006.
  

• Martin Kaymer is the top-ranked player in the world, but has never made the cut at Augusta National.

• Lee Westwood finished runner-up to Mickelson last year. The No. 2 player in the world has come close to picking up his first-ever major championship on many occasions.

• Tiger Woods can never, ever be discounted as a threat to regain the his 2000-09 form. Counting the two majors he tallied before the breakout 2000 season, Woods has 14 in total and could awake from the post-scandal hibernation that's left him searching for a victory in any tournament.

Of course, the rest of the field choice includes Dustin Johnson, Bubba Watson, past U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen and everyone else. There was a time when it was just Woods vs. the field. Those days are over, but it should be an exciting week.

And since Augusta National is famous for a certain par-3 during Amen Corner, the latest poll asks which is the best/most memorable par-3 in golf.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in poll duel

Take a look at the top right-hand corner and you'll notice a new feature to the blog.

Yup, it's a poll and in honor of the first men's major in 2011, it's time for the blog to roll out its first-ever one.

With the Masters set to begin Thursday, vote for who you think will don the green jacket come Sunday evening.

Voting closes Thursday morning just as the first round starts at Augusta National.

You can choose Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, world No. 1 Martin Kaymer, perennial major runner-up Lee Westwood or the rest of the field.

Let the voting commence!

Tiger Woods still isn't back

Tiger Woods from The Barclay's tournament in August/provided by McClatchy News-Service

His spot atop the world golf rankings already vanished, but Tiger Woods still had a chance to reclaim the tag as the game's best player with a victory in the Chevron World Challenge coupled with Lee Westwood not finishing in the top two on Sunday.

However, Woods failed in his bid for his first victory in more than a year, while Westwood dusted off the competition to capture the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City, South Africa.

What happened during Sunday's final round in California proves that Woods still isn't "back" as an elite golfer, a mere year removed from the scandal that shook the golfing world to its core.

Woods held a four-shot lead with one round left in the 18-player tourney.

Yet, Graeme McDowell was able to overcome what used to be an insurmountable lead.

The Northern Irishman capped his banner season - which included a victory at the U.S. Open - with a 20-footer for birdie on the first playoff hole in defeating El Tigre.

So what did we learn?

Tiger Woods isn't back as the unstoppable force - although he's getting closer - and McDowell is pretty darn good.

Not too many have gone toe-to-toe with Tiger and walked away with a trophy in tow.

McDowell accomplished that feat to move to No. 7 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Jim Furyk reacting to winning the Tour Championship earlier this year/provided by McClatchy News-Service

Amidst the hoopla surrounding McDowell's taming of Tiger Woods, the PGA Tour released its Player of the Year award over the weekend.

Jim Furyk was named the Player of the Year, earning the Jack Nicklaus Trophy as he beat out Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Matt Kuchar and Ernie Els.

Furyk's three PGA Tour victories in 2010, second on the money list behind Kuchar and FedEx Cup title were enough to seal the Player of the Year.

Rickie Fowler was named the PGA Tour's Rookie of the Year with Jamie Lovemark taking the Nationwide Tour's Player of the Year award.

Westwood proves he's not a one-trick pony

Lee Westwood at The Masters, photo provided by McClatchy News Service

Some musings from last week's fight for No. 1:

Lee Westwood proved he wasn't a one-week wonder atop the world rankings.

The Englishman finished just one shot behind winner Francesco Molinari at the World Golf Champions HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China.

Four players had a chance to become No. 1, including Americans Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

Germany's Martin Kaymer was the other play aside from Westwood, who had a chance at No. 1.

Neither Woods, Mickelson or Kaymer had a legitimate chance heading into Sunday's final round, because Westwood was near the top of the leaderboard.

The Englishman carded a final round 67 to finish the tournament at 18-under par.

Another note, the tournament was a success for Woods in the sense that he finished in a tie for sixth.

However, El Tigre wrapped up his disappointing year without a victory for the first time since he turned pro back in 1996.

He also was crushed in the Thailand Skins Game that Camilo Villegas triumphed in.

Woods won just one skin in the one-day tournament in his mother's home country.

Now he's off to the Australian Masters, site of his last victory - one year ago.

Westwood is the new No. 1

Lee Westwood at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational this year, photo provided by McClatchy News Service

Lee Westwood is the new No. 1 player in the world, and he hasn't won a major yet.

Despite the tag as the "best-player-never-to-win-a-major," Westwood isn't alone in becoming No. 1 without one of the top prizes in golf dotting his resume.

The Englishman is the fourth player - after Ian Woosnam, Fred Couples and David Duval - to become the world's best player without a major championship.

And good news, all three of the previous touring pros would later etch their names into golf history with major victories.

Woosnam and Couples earned green jackets for triumphs at The Masters, while Duval won the Claret Jug en route to the British Open title.

Westwood has sniffed that elusive maiden major several times, including runner-up finishes at the 2010 Masters and British Open.

To read more about Westwood taking over for Tiger Woods as the No. 1-ranked player in the world, click the following link: "Commentary: Tiger's fall appeared unlikely"