No. 1: Lee Westwood

2011 Golfer Countdown

BORN: April 24, 1973, Worksop, United Kingdom

FEDEX FINISH: n/a 

2010 PGA TOUR EARNINGS: $3,399,954

WORLD GOLF RANKING: 1 (as of Feb. 23, 2011)

GOLF CHANNEL’S BRANDEL CHAMBLEE GIVES HIS TAKE: Lee Westwood is the 13th player to ascend to the No. 1 ranking in the world, and only the third person to take that seat away from Tiger Woods in the last 12 years. Long known as an extraordinary ballstriker, Westwood has improved his scrambling skills and his putting, and this combination has made him the most complete player on the planet. If he plays a major championship with fewer than 120 putts, something he failed to do in 2010, chances are he will win it and end 2011 just as he started it — as the No. 1 player in the world.

THE CASE FOR NO. 1: The computer doesn’t lie. Westwood has parlayed five top-three finishes in his last 10 major championship appearances — including solo seconds at the 2010 Masters and British Open — into the top spot in the World Golf Ranking, ending Tiger Woods’ lengthy reign. He capped his season by providing 2.5 points to the winning European Ryder Cup team. The 2009 money leader on the European Tour, Westwood’s at the vanguard of the Euro invasion and a threat to win multiple majors this year.

CAREER PGA TOUR STATS

• Events — 136
• Cuts — 107
• 1st — 2
• 2nd — 4
• 3rd — 3
• T10 — 24
• T25 — 54