Phil Mickelson gets another shot at becoming the world's top-ranked golfer this week. Lee Westwood could also replace Tiger Woods by Sunday evening.
"Hello? World Rankings hotline? What exactly do I have to do to finally wrest the No. 1 spot away from Tiger Woods? Oh, winning would do it?" Phil Mickelson has made no secret that he covets Woods' 270-week hold on the top spot in golf.• Bridgestone fan info | Tee times | Livy on Tiger Woods
• Thursday's TV: Golf Channel, 2-6 p.m.
AKRON, Ohio -- The race for No. 1 is on ... again.
Phil Mickelson gets another shot at becoming the world's top-ranked golfer when the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational gets underway Thursday at Firestone Country Club. So, too, does Lee Westwood.
Taking a shot at being No. 1 means taking a shot at Tiger Woods, and that is not a new venture for Mickelson, or anyone else harboring thoughts of moving into the top spot of the world rankings.
Tiger has been chased -- but not caught -- for the last 270 weeks. That's longer than some marriages last. Mickelson is ranked second and Westwood is ranked third.
The formula used to determine the world's top golfer is almost as complicated as the NFL playoff formula. In short, it is a composite work of the six professional tours and the four major championships that make up the sport's International Federation of PGA Tours. Points are awarded for where a player finishes in a particular event, with the majors given higher consideration.
Mickelson has had several chances to replace Woods this summer, especially after winning the Masters in April. Woods and Mickelson tied for fourth at the U.S. Open in June -- thus negating any chance Mickelson had of making up ground -- and Woods finished higher than Mickelson at the British Open.
But, this is a new week and a new opportunity. Neither player is playing particularly well, but that doesn't mean Mickelson has given up hope.
"It would mean a lot to me," he said during an interview at Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey on Tuesday. "These next two weeks, Akron and the PGA Championship, are special events. It would be a very important thing."
It won't be easy. Woods said three times on Wednesday that he intends on playing his way onto the Ryder Cup team, which would make it very difficult for anyone to replace him. He is well aware of his status and what it will take to keep it.
"You play and how I got here in the first place was by winning golf tournaments," Woods said. "And, how I will sustain it is by winning golf tournaments. Winning golf tournaments takes care of a lot of things and being No. 1 is one of them."
According to the PGA, here is a list of scenarios that will determine the world's top-ranked player.
• If Woods wins, he stays at No. 1.
• If Mickelson wins, he would become No. 1 no matter where Woods finishes.
• If Westwood wins and Woods finishes worse than a tie for second, Westwood would become No. 1.
• Mickelson has to finish higher than fourth to have a chance at climbing to the top.
• Mickelson can finish fourth, but Woods must be worse than a tie for 37th and Westwood outside the top two before Lefty moves up.
• If Westwood finishes second alone, then Woods must be outside ninth and Mickelson cannot be the tournament winner.