Sweden’s Henrik Stenson has played down the likelihood of becoming the new World No.1 ranked golfer heading into this week’s 60th anniversary BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.
Stenson can become the first-ever Swede to move to the top of the World Rankings should he finish higher at this week’s European Tour flagship event than Australia’s Adam Scott who is contesting the PGA Tour’s Crown Plaza Invitational Colonial event at Fort Worth in Texas.
Earlier this week Scott became only the second Australian-born World No. 1 and moving to the top of the rankings despite bizarrely moving ahead of the injured Tiger Woods in sitting out last week’s HP Byron Nelson Championship.
Henrik Stenson looking to become World No. 1 by finishing ahead of Adam Scott this week. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)
Stenson has not competed at Wentworth since 2010 and after changes to the golf course, but prior to that had enjoyed just one top-10 result in 10 straight appearances from 2001 to 2010.
In contrast, Scott has faired little better in the Lone Star State competing twice before at Fort Worth finishing T64th in 2010 and one place higher a year later.
However the current World No. 3 ranked Stenson is playing down the possibility of adding the World No. 1 title to last year’s PGA Tour and European Tour Number One title honours.
“It’s definitely on but I haven’t given it too much thought in that sense,” he said.
“I’ve been more trying to work on my game and try to get back in good shape because I know if I get my game to where I want to have it, then, you know, that’s definitely an achievable thing in the near future.
“But just solely looking at that, I’m more into trying to focus on the processes of playing good golf and giving myself the best chance to become world No. 1, and if I can win some tournaments this year, I will have a good shot at getting there.
“So whether you want to try and squeeze a tie for 14th and get to World No. 1 by a 100th of a point, I don’t know if that gives you greater satisfaction or not.”
However present World No. 4 Matt Kuchar could also become the World No. 1 should he win in Texas.
Stenson is among 15 of the world’s top-50 competing in this week’s Euro 4.75m BMW PGA Championship with the only European-born players missing who are inside the top-50 from this week’s event being World No. 15 Graeme McDowell and the injured World No. 23 Victor Dubuisson of France.
England’s Ian Poulter indicated he was only 70 % certain of teeing up on Thursday after injuring his lower back last week in the gym.
“The good news is it is only muscle and it was the muscles that’s tightened in my lower back,” he said.
“The percentages, this morning I would have said 10 % and I’ve just hit some balls and I would say that percentages are now 70 per cent, and we’ve got, you know, nearly 24 hours before tee off. So I’ve got 20 hours.
“It’s just disappointing, and it’s not the best prep for this week.”
