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Westwood to be crowned world No. 1

Lee Westwood will become the first British world No. 1 in 16 years © Getty Images

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Lee Westwood will dethrone Tiger Woods as world No. 1 after Martin Kaymer failed to seize his chance at the Valderrama Masters.

Kaymer, who had been in stunning form, winning three tournaments in a row since winning the US PGA Championship in August, needed to finish in the top two in Spain to deny Westwood. But a poor performance saw him finish well off the pace on seven-over par.

It leaves Westwood to succeed Woods without having picked up a club, ending Woods' 281-week reign at the top of the world rankings. He will now travel to China for the WGC-HSBC Champions event as the first European No. 1 since Nick Faldo in 1994.

Asked if it was the most satisfying moment in his career, Westwood said: "Yes I think so. It's a dream everyone has to say there is nobody better than me at the moment. You have to say it's a highlight.

"It's a great honour and a big responsibility. It certainly sounds and feels good right now. When you are growing up and people say what do you want to achieve, everyone says I want to be the best in the world. Right at this moment I can show people the world rankings and say I am the best on the planet."

Westwood will meet Woods in Shanghai, and he anticipates the banter will continue to flow between the pair despite the competition for golf's top spot.

"I have a great relationship with Tiger," said Westwood. "We have mutual respect and have always got on well, on and off the course. I give him a little bit of stick and he gives me a little.

"When Tiger was in his pomp everyone thought [being number one] was unattainable. But form comes and goes - I'm a perfect example of that - and when we started to get a bit nearer the top of the rankings we started to think it was obtainable."

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