The world's best golfer. Really?

Lee Westwood.

Congratulations are in order to Lee Westwood for becoming the world's number one golfer. That is to say number one in the world rankings, not the world's best golfer. 

In surpassing Tiger, it seems Lee has put some American noses out of joint ( let's put aside for one moment what should really be vexing them, i.e. the continued Ryder Cup dominance, the annexing of the majors following The Masters by European Tour players etc) and the british press has been quick to defend him , including the normally reliable James Corrigan of The Independent. Our press highlights his consistency, his skills with the big dog, and his remarkable fightback after his loss of form and confidence.

He deserves it, they say.

And it's all true, except, unfortunately him deserving it. Save the heartwarming stories of the rewards of refusing to give in, of determination in the face of adversity, of godammit redemption for the human interest section. Sport, at least professional sport at the highest level has to be about more than deserving, it has to be about doing.

Coming down the stretch at Augusta we were all waiting for a statement of intent, a moment when a golfer said This is my time, I will not be denied, when a player looks into the eyes of his opponent and knows, knows, he has too much for the other guy. That moment came alright, but it was Lefty putting on the green jacket.

Put brutally if I had to back a guy to finish top ten in the majors it would be Westwood, but to back him to win one? the answer's no.