Golf’s world ranking has been more like a game of musical chairs with the most turnover at the top in the 26-year history of the ranking. Donald and Rory McIlroy would like the music to stop playing for good sometime this year. And both want the same outcome.
“Hopefully,” Donald said Wednesday, raising his hand, “it will be me.”
McIlroy said the same last week at Quail Hollow, where his playoff loss at the Wells Fargo Championship was enough for him to return to No. 1 for the third time in 2012.
Donald has a chance to take it back this week at The Players Championship, which offers the most world ranking points of any tournament besides the majors. They have taken turns at the top six times in the past 10 weeks. The last time the No. 1 ranking was remotely this volatile was in 1997, when it changed seven times in 13 weeks among Greg Norman, Tiger Woods, Tom Lehman and Ernie Els.
The Associated Press
Tour Schedules
PGA TOUR
The Players Championship
Course: TPC Sawgrass, Players Stadium Course (7,215 yards).
TV: Golf Channel (today-Friday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.) and NBC (Saturday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m.).
LPGA TOUR
Next event: Sybase Match Play Championship, May 17-20, Hamilton Farm Golf Club, Gladstone, N.J.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Next event: Senior PGA Championship, May 24-27, The Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Mich.
