Top 25 golf stories of 2013, No. 10: After 2.5 years, Tiger Woods is No. 1 in the world again

A whopping 877 days after he'd lost it, Tiger Woods regained the No. 1 spot in the world and made our countdown in the process.

On Oct. 31, 2010 Lee Westwood overtook Tiger Woods for the No. 1 spot in the World Golf Rankings. Some 877 days later, Woods finally regained the top spot in the world.

Other than on paper, being No. 1 in the world doesn't mean a whole lot. It's a nice career accomplishment, but it won't win you tournaments and certainly doesn't guarantee you'll win major championships. For Woods, however, reclaiming the No. 1 spot in the world was less about the number next to his name and more about the journey it took to get there.

He was in the midst of a downward spiral when Westwood officially passed him. Woods was coming off a winless season and still in the process of moving beyond the highly-publicized off-the-course issues in his life. His life on the course wasn't much better. He had changed coaches and was working on a new swing, but attempting to do so while playing through an assortment of leg injuries. He missed time due to a knee injury and fired long-time caddie Steve Williams. His career on-the-course hit rock bottom on Nov. 6, 2011 when the dropped to No. 58 in the world.

From there, Woods began the long and arduous process of climbing back to the top of the world. Following back-to-back winless seasons, he started to regain his old form early in in 2012. His win at the 2012 Arnold Palmer was his first since he won the BMW Championship in 2009. He went on to add two more wins that season, vaulting all the way to No. 3 in the world.

Coming off a rebound season, the "is Tiger back" debates were in full swing at the start of the 2013 season. For his part, Woods didn't waste much time answering the question. He won his first event of the year at the Farmers Insurance Open. He then made it two wins with a victory at the WGC-Cadillac Championship.

Two weeks later, he made at run at No. 1. Historically, Woods has played well in the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. That proved to be the case once again when a third-round 66 put him in contention. Needing a win to overtake the No. 1 spot, Woods was forced to wait an extra day when severe weather delayed the tournament. He was challenged by Rickie Fowler and Justin Rose on the final day, but wound up winning by two strokes.

Nearly two-and-a-half years later, Tiger Woods was once again the top player in the world. The ranking was nothing new, he'd spent 623 weeks in the top spot during his career, but it was the end of a very long journey. Many questioned whether he'd ever get back there. Fans, analysts, even players. He did ... eventually.

Now all he has to do is winner another major.

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Zach Johnson wins Northwestern Mutual World Challenge

Zach Johnson saw off Tiger Woods in a play-off to complete a remarkable comeback and claim the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge title from under the nose of its host.

Johnson found himself four shots back after 10 holes as Woods appeared to be cruising to victory in his tournament at the Sherwood Country Club.

But he staged a stirring comeback on the way home as Woods stagnated, sinking four birdies and chipping in from the drop zone on the 18th to take the contest into a play-off with a four-under round of 68, before taking the title on the first extra hole.

That scenario looked a long way off after 10 holes.

Woods led by two from Johnson overnight and he moved a further shot clear of his fellow American after reaching the turn in 34 following birdies on the par-five second and fifth holes.

That left Woods on 13 under for the tournament while Johnson was 10 under after nine having only picked up the one birdie on the fifth.

When Johnson bogeyed the 10th to go four behind, his prospects looked bleak, but he birdied the 11th and 12th, and when Woods dropped a shot at 14 the deficit was cut to just one.

Both players birdied 16, then when Johnson picked up a shot on the next it was all square at 13 under.

Johnson was in trouble on the 18th after finding the water, but holed spectacularly from the drop zone to save par, then parred the first play-off hole - as Woods found the bunker and missed a four-foot putt - to take the title.

Johnson was left to reflect on his striking effort at the 18th.

"[It] was a little bit too dramatic for me," he told NBC. "I'm lucky it went in."

Woods was magnanimous in defeat, saying: "I had a two-shot lead starting out the day. Zach, I don't know how the last three iron shots didn't go in the hole. It was pretty impressive on 16, 17, and 18.

"He got me."

In third place, four shots behind the leading pair on nine under, were Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar, who had a best-of-the-day five-under-par 67.

Webb Simpson was fifth, with 2012 champion Graeme McDowell sixth on five under and Ian Poulter seventh on three under.

Rory McIlroy had a 70 for his second straight under-par round to finish level for the tournament.

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Henrik Stenson rounds off stellar year with another trophy

Henrik Stenson has been awarded the 2013 Golf Writers Trophy following a season which saw him make history on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Swede became the first player to win both the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup and the European Tour's Race to Dubai in the same season, an achievement which helped him rise to number three in the world.

The 37-year-old beat off competition from US Open champion Justin Rose and the victorious European Solheim Cup team to claim the award, which recognises outstanding achievements during the year from golfers born or resident in Europe and European teams.

"I think when you look at what others achieved like Justin and the Solheim Cup team it does make it mean that little bit more," he said.

"It's a huge honour and a great reflection on the year I had.

"I'm looking forward to getting a few of these trophies I've won into the summer house in Sweden. It has been such a great year that I can have a few in Europe and a few in my house in America.

"What a great thrill it is going to be over Christmas to sit by the fire with my family and take stock of the season, look at trophies such as this one and reflect on the year of my life."

Stenson registered almost two-thirds of the votes to claim the honour, which was won by Rory McIlroy last year, with Rose finishing second and Liselotte Neumann's team coming in third.

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Day draws strength from roller-coaster year

LOS ANGELES - Jason Day has been torn between golfing joy and personal grief over the past two months but he believes the experience has strengthened his resolve and character as he aims to build on a "good year" in 2014.

Aged just 26, the Australian has established himself as one of the game's most exciting players and, with a rare ability to perform at his best when the pressure is at its most intense, has set his sights on landing a maiden major title.

Day has recorded six top-10s in golf's blue riband events, including three this year, and proved in stunning fashion that he is well equipped to overcome adversity by completing an emotional double triumph at the World Cup of Golf last month.

Despite just days earlier having lost eight relatives who were killed in the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan, he went on to win the World Cup of Golf by two strokes at Royal Melbourne, along with the team title in partnership with Adam Scott.

"That was obviously a very emotional week and to win the World Cup the way we did and then win the individual (title) on top of that, plus to have my family in town, was pretty special," world number 11 Day told Reuters.

"I have played some pretty solid golf over the last three weeks so overall it's been an up-and-down roller-coaster, as you would think. But I am very happy with how I have handled myself, through the good and the bad.

"It would have been the easiest thing for me to just go ahead and pull out of the tournament with what had been going on ... but I really wanted to play with Adam and try to win the World Cup, and we achieved that which was great."

Day, whose only PGA Tour victory came at the 2010 Byron Nelson Championship, was especially delighted to clinch a fifth World Cup team title for Australia, their first since Peter Fowler and Wayne Grady triumphed in 1989.

"To bring it back to Australia, playing in front of the home crowd, and then winning it on one of the most well-known Australian golf courses was very special," said Day, who is known for his attacking strategy and explosive shot-making.

"To be able to win it with Scotty, who has been a really good friend of mine for a long, long time now, to play as well as we did and to win it pretty convincingly in the end (by 10 shots), was a complete honor."

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Asked to assess his overall 2013 campaign, Day replied: "It's been a good year. The only thing that I obviously didn't have was another win on the PGA Tour.

"But I had a really solid win at the World Cup against the best players in the world and that's very encouraging for next year. I am very motivated.

"Now I've got about five or six weeks off, get some good rest and then get into the gym and try to really get fit for next year. I am looking forward to starting next season."

Day, who ended his 2013 season by tying for ninth in an elite field of 18 at last week's Northwestern Mutual World Challenge hosted by Tiger Woods in California, will specifically target golf's four major championships next year.

"I would love to win a major," said the Queenslander who finished third at this year's Masters before tying for second at the U.S. Open two months later. "That's a big goal of mine.

"I have to improve mentally a little more but I feel like my game is in a good spot. It's getting tougher to win tournaments and you've just got to work harder than the next guy to have that extra edge over him."

Should Day require major inspiration, he need look no further than at compatriot Scott, who made his long-expected breakthrough at the game's highest level with a playoff victory at this year's Masters.

Asked what he identified as the biggest difference in Scott's game this year, Day replied: "His game has always been there, I just think he's working a little bit harder and he wants it a little bit more.

"It's amazing the results you can get when you actually want it so bad that you will actually do it.

"Some years are up and down but when you really, really want it, it's difficult not to get what you want because it's just that law of attraction, I guess."

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Mandela, a natural charmer with the measure of those he met

BRUSSELS - Thousands upon thousands of people, great and small, met Nelson Mandela, and as a correspondent in South Africa from 1997-2000, I was fortunate to be among them.

During his presidency and in the early years of his retirement from office, Mandela made a point of meeting as many of the people who beat a path to his door as possible.

He loved the gatherings which, while often stage-managed and to a certain extent set up for the media, were also perfect opportunities to observe Madiba at close range.

Two meetings are crystallised in the memory, not so much for their political importance but for what they showed of his personality and almost child-like enjoyment of the moment, not to mention the intense impact he had on people.

The first was an encounter with the Spice Girls in 1997, when the British band was taking the world by storm. They were performing at a concert in Johannesburg to help raise money for the Prince's Trust, a charity overseen by Prince Charles.

As he was hugged and kissed by each of the women in turn, including Ginger Spice wearing bright-red, six-inch (15-cm) platform shoes and a super-short Japanese-style dress, Mandela beamed and declared it to be the "greatest day of my life".

It was a phrase he often used when meeting high-profile visitors, an easy way of flattering them since it was nearly always the greatest day of their lives rather than of his.

But he always managed to say it with a ring of truth, and perhaps at some level meeting five excitable 20-something women in skimpy clothes really was a great day - certainly not the sort of thing that happens in prison.

His minders said they were sure he hadn't heard of the Spice Girls until that morning, but it didn't matter to Mandela.

That was the mark of the man: that he could switch from meeting kings and presidents one day, a child from Soweto or his former jailers the next and the Spice Girls the day after, and genuinely be able to say each time that it was the best of all possible days.

That said, it was the boxers he met, including Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, who really put a smile on his face, reminding him of his earliest sporting passion.

A GLOBAL STAR SILENCED

The other meeting that stands out took place with Tiger Woods and his father Earl Woods in 1998. Tiger had won the U.S. Masters the year before and was on his way to being regarded as the world's greatest player at the age of 22.

But rather than a champion with the world at his feet, the person who met Mandela that day looked like an awe-struck schoolboy in an oversized grey suit, one hand in his pocket.

No one but Woods knows what was said in the private meeting with Mandela, but in an appearance in front of the press immediately afterwards, Tiger barely uttered a word. In photos, he can be seen staring in silent amazement while his father talked about the importance of his son meeting Mandela.

Despite his reticence 15 years ago, the moment clearly left an impression on Woods. He called the meeting an inspiration and wrote on Twitter the day Madiba died: "Pop & I felt your aura when we met. I feel it today & I will feel it forever."

The only time I shook hands with Mandela again provided a moment of amusing insight into his character.

It was at a Foreign Correspondents' Association dinner in Johannesburg in 1998 and Mandela had been invited as the guest of honour.

About 150 journalists were there, including Charlayne Hunter-Gault, at the time a correspondent for U.S. National Public Radio who had been one of the first people to interview Mandela when he was released from prison.

Knowing Hunter-Gault a little bit and knowing that she knew Mandela, I shamelessly stood beside her as Mandela came down the receiving line shaking hands with everyone as he left.

As he got to Hunter-Gault, Mandela broke into a broad smile and held his arms out wide for a hug. "Charlayne! Charlayne! Lovely to see you again," he said in his distinctive voice, taking her hands in his and holding her with a tight gaze.

"When are you going to become a South African citizen?" he asked with a twinkle in his eye. "We would be honoured to have someone as lovely as you as a South African."

His flirtatious banter left Hunter-Gault, a striking woman seldom at a loss for words, speechless and close to blushes.

He may be 80 but he's an outrageous charmer, I remember thinking. But before I could complete the thought his hand was outstretched in my direction. We exchanged a quick shake.

"Hello," I said, "nice to meet you." But there was no reply. He had already moved down the line.

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Tiger Woods Faced Another Potential On-Course Infraction at Northwestern Mutual World Challenge, but Viewers Didn’t See It

COMMENTARY | Tiger Woods is the most widely followed, scrutinized and videotaped golfer in the sport.

So it was a bit odd to only hear about Woods' possible one-stroke penalty during NBC's live coverage of the third round of the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge, a tournament he was leading at the time and eventually went on to lose in a playoff to Zach Johnson.

On Saturday, during a commercial break, Woods' ball apparently moved from its spot on the 13th green while he was looking over a birdie putt. Instead of showing viewers what happened, NBC aired a live shot of Woods joking around with Johnson while on-course announcer Notah Begay III explained the situation.

"I think they're pretty sure the ball did move," Begay said. "Tiger was walking around reading his putt, had already set it down. It was sitting there for quite some time, and, as he stooped in behind it, the ball kind of tipped over, so I think they need to figure out whether he needs to replace it or play it from where it lies."

Studio announcer Roger Maltbie quickly chimed in: "I believe the question is if he's done nothing to cause it to move, if he's put the ball down on the green and the ball is at rest, and then he goes about reading the putt and the ball alters position without him causing it to move, then the ball will be played as it lies under no penalty.

"If the ball in fact moved and he was deemed to have cause it to move, then he would have to replace it under the penalty of a stroke," Maltbie said.

Begay said he was certain that Tiger didn't cause the ball to move, to which Maltbie responded with, "This shouldn't be an issue."

Maltbie's in-booth partner, Terry Gannon, then correctly noted that "you call in a rules official, though, any time there's a question, obviously. These days, certainly if you're Tiger."

Yet, there was no footage shown during and after the official review, and no explanation for the lack of footage.

Windy conditions dominated the tournament on Saturday, so it wasn't surprising to hear that the rules official ultimately determined that the ball moved on its own. Woods was able to finish the hole without incurring a penalty.

He ended up three-putting from about 6 feet and carded a bogey. 

It's plausible that NBC didn't have any quality video clips of the ball moving. This wasn't exactly a major tournament or even an official PGA Tour event. In fact, it's about as close to an exhibition as a real golf tournament can get. With only 18 players in the field, the number of cameras and angles may be limited.

But it's also possible, perhaps more likely, that NBC did have some footage and just chose not to air it, in part because of the controversy surrounding Woods and rules infractions. After all, Woods is the host of the tournament, he was in the lead the time and, well, he's Tiger Freaking Woods, so you'd expect his every move to be recorded.

Woods and his on-course infractions surfaced as one of the major stories of the 2013 golf season after the Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee all but called Woods a cheater in a ridiculously outrageous column for Golf.com. (As a side, NBC owns the Golf Channel).

Fellow golfers Rory McIlroy and Geoff Ogilvy have even chimed in on the Woods-Chamblee fiasco, with Ogilvy offering a surprising take.

Indirectly, viewer call-ins of rules infractions have also become a topic of discussion for the folks running the PGA Tour. It was a viewer, albeit a Champions Tour golfer, who called in Woods' illegal drop during the Masters.

Woods has gone on record to support a PGA Tour review of TV viewers' ability to call in possible rules violations.

"It's a new age in which there is a lot of cameras that are around - well, around my group and then some of the top players," Woods said in September, according to USA Today. "I think the commissioner was right. We're going to have to have more discussions about it in the future. I think that's actually happening right now."

Indeed, there are a lot of cameras around Woods every time he tees it up. But maybe just not on Saturday, on the 13th green, while he was looking over a birdie putt, with the lead in hand.

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Golf in 2013: Sharing the wealth

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Wanting to return among the elite in golf, Graeme McDowell mapped out a plan last fall. He figured out how many ranking points he would need to get back into the top five in the world.

And he went about it the right way. It started with his win at the World Challenge a year ago. He won at Hilton Head on the PGA Tour. He won the World Match Play Championship and the French Open on the European Tour. He was third at World Golf Championships in Doral and Shanghai.

''I've got to say, I got pretty close to that target that I set myself,'' McDowell said.

Little did he know how much the target would be moving in an extraordinary year for golf.

McDowell ended last year at No. 15 in the world. Now he is all the way up to No. 12.

''I wasn't really factoring on how many great players around me were going to have incredible seasons,'' McDowell said. ''So making an impact in that top 10 in the world has been very difficult to do this year because you just get so many guys playing incredibly well.''

Call it bad timing for McDowell, and happy days for golf.

Rarely has the golf season - men and women - felt so rewarding for so many players. Perhaps that explains why Tiger Woods could win five times - more than any other player in the world - capture the PGA Tour money title and the Vardon Trophy for the lowest scoring average, and then listen to people discuss the definition of player of the year and whether he is worthy without having won a major.

He is used to playing under a different set of standards, a victim of his own success. Anyone else with five trophies from the courses where he won - Torrey Pines, Doral, Bay Hill, TPC Sawgrass and Firestone - and there wouldn't be a debate.

But this wasn't just any other year.

Adam Scott became the first Australian to win the Masters, and along the way earned redemption from blowing the British Open nearly nine months earlier. He had the outright lead on the back nine at the British Open this year before faltering. A month later, he won The Barclays during the FedEx Cup playoffs, arguably one of the strongest fields of the year with the tour's top 125 players who are all on form.

When he finally went home to show off his green jacket, Scott won the Australian PGA Championship and the Australian Masters, and then teamed with Jason Day to give Australia its first World Cup title in 24 years. He was poised to capture Australia's Triple Crown until Rory McIlroy beat him on the last hole in the Australian Open.

A better year than Woods? Probably not, though it depends how much weight is given a major.

Perhaps a better question: Did he have a better year than Phil Mickelson?

Lefty came within a cruel lip-out of shooting a 59 in the Phoenix Open, which he wound up winning. Showing off a short game like no other, his chip on the 18th hole at Castle Stuart gave him a victory in the Scottish Open. And his Sunday at Muirfield gets little debate over the best round of the year. Mickelson made four birdies on the last six holes for a 66 to capture the one major that not even he thought he could win.

Who won the most meaningful major this year? Mickelson or Scott? Best to save that argument for the bar.

Not to be forgotten is Henrik Stenson, who in April wasn't even eligible for the Masters. He finished one shot behind in the Shell Houston Open, which got him to Augusta National. But it was the summer when the Swede began to shine.

A tie for third in the Scottish Open. Runner-up at the British Open. Runner-up at Firestone (by seven shots to Woods), third at the PGA Championship. He won two FedEx Cup playoff events to win the $10 million FedEx Cup. And for good measure, he won the final event in Europe to become the first player to win the FedEx Cup and Race to Dubai in the same season.

Missing from the equation this year was the guy who started the year at No. 1 - McIlroy. He still had a good view.

''You've got Tiger with five wins this year. Adam breaks through for his first major. Phil wins the major he thinks he's never going to win. Henrik comes back,'' McIlroy said. ''Yeah, it's deep. You've got to play really well to win. ... But I think golf is in great shape.''

On the LPGA Tour, the points-based player of the year came down to the next to last week, even though Inbee Park had won three straight majors among her six titles. Suzann Pettersen and Stacy Lewis won the other majors. Lewis won the Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average. Pettersen had a chance to win the money title until she faltered in the Titleholders.

That's what inspired LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan to say, ''Sports are at their absolute best ... when the best athletes in that sport are having the best years of their lives.''

It's hard to say with certainty that Woods was at his absolute best, and not just because he didn't win a major. It used to be that when Woods was at his best, there was not enough wealth to go around. Now there is.

What a year.

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Boo Weekley withdraws from Franklin Templeton Shootout after family bereavements

Boo Weekley has withdrawn from this week's Franklin Templeton Shootout after suffering two family bereavements.

 

The American, 40, has lost both his grandfather and an uncle in the past 10 days and has now informed tournament officials he will not be competing as a result.

 

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Boo during this difficult time," tournament director Taylor Ives stated. "We know he was very close with both of these gentlemen. Without question he needs to be with his family at this time."

 

Weekley will be replaced by Sweden's Freddie Jacobson at the tournament which gets underway at the Ritz-Carlton Resort in Florida on Friday.

 

Jacobson will partner South Africa's Retief Goosen at the event which pits 12 two-man teams against each other over three days of competition.

 

Greg Norman, who is partnered by Sweden's Jonas Blixt, plays host, while the teams of Ian Poulter & Lee Westwood and Jason Dufner & Dustin Johnson are amongst the favourites.

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Thomas Aiken says victory at Nelson Mandela Championship would be proudest moment

 

Thomas Aiken has admitted that winning this week's Nelson Mandela Championship would eclipse anything else he has managed in golf.

The European Tour event in South Africa will inevitably carry great poignancy given the events of the last few days.

The start of the second staging of the tournament has been moved forward a day to Wednesday in order that the final round does not clash with the former South African president's state funeral on Sunday.

 

Johannesburg native Aiken has acknowledged that Mandela was an source of real inspiration for him and makes no secret of the fact he would to love to add the title of a tournament bearing the legendary stateman's name to his resume.

"It's a very emotional week," he told reporters. "He has touched everyone's heart in some way or the other and how fortunate are we as professionals to be playing a tournament named after him in the week that he passed on?

"I've played in a few Nelson Mandela Invitational events and never got to meet Madiba. Now I'm playing in the Nelson Mandela Championship and it's a great honour to be participating in an event that hopes to continue his legacy of assisting children.

"I'm a South African and Mandela is very dear to me as he was someone we all could look up to.

Inspiration

"How nice it would be if we could do a little of what he did and knit everyone together - like we are now all in sorrow - and make this country a better place to live in.

       

Thomas Bjorn has said it has been an emotional week for South Africa and has taken inspiration in his win during the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

                    

"That, to me, would be the best thing to have on my CV - a win at the Nelson Mandela Championship. Wouldn't that be great?"

Aiken's sentiments were echoed by compatriot Branden Grace who heads the betting for this week's event.

Perhaps unsurprisingly given a stunning 2012 campaign that yielded five wins, the 25-year-old has found things rather tougher this season but is hoping to be inspired by Mandela on home soil.

"It's kind of bittersweet to be playing in the Nelson Mandela Championship just a week after Madiba's death," said Grace.

"It's nice to be able to go and support something like that and the great cause that it supports. It's not a happy time in South Africa, so it's nice to be able to be in a position where I can go and support the tournament."

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Thailand Golf Championship: Justin Rose admits US Open win still sinking in

Justin Rose admits that winning the US Open is still sinking in, as he closes his memorable 2013 with an appearance at the Thailand Golf Championship.

 

World No 4 Rose will make his debut at the Amata Spring Country Club as he looks for the perfect end to a perfect season which saw him lift his maiden major title.

Rose became the first Englishman to win the US Open in 43 years with his brilliant two-shot win at a testing Merion course near Philadelphia.

 

The 33-year-old had a tough start to his professional career but was then touted for a major win for some time before finally hoisting one of golf's big four prizes.

 

While that achievement is still sinking in, Rose insists that he is hungry for more titles after feeling the relief at getting the first major under his belt.

"Wining a major, it's still sinking in," Rose admitted. "It's an amazing feeling and a lot of relief. A lot of great players haven't won a major and to get that monkey off my back is fantastic.

"It takes off a lot of pressure. As a kid growing up, I always dreamed of winning a major and it's nice to have that. At this point of my career, it's not time to reminisce; I am motivated to win more."

Emotions

Rose still remembers the high emotions that were running as he sank his putt on the 18th at Merion on Father's Day, as he remembered his late father Ken, who died from leukaemia in 2002.

"To also do it on Father's Day, it was an amazing feeling to share with my late father," Rose added.

"I've seen my good friends Rory and GMac hugging their fathers (after winning the US Open) and I thought I would never feel that. I was surprised how good it felt, I could feel my late dad was with me that day."

A perfect end to 2013 would be for Rose to pick up the title at a star-studded Thailand Golf Championship with the likes of Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler all involved.

Rose spoke at a preview launch hours after landing in Bangkok but was already delighted with how the tournament was shaping up.

"My first 15 hours has been fantastic," Rose added. "We've been treated well, the hotel is fantastic and turning up for a press conference by boat and seeing some iconic landmarks in Bangkok is a perfect way to start the week."

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Thailand Golf Championship: Henrik Stenson looking for one more win

Henrik Stenson is squeezing the last few drops of energy out of himself as he looks to end a memorable year on a high in his final start of 2013 at the Thailand Golf Championship.

The 37-year-old made history as he captured both the FedEx Cup and Race To Dubai after a sparkling summer as he powered up to World No 3 in the golf rankings.

The Swede also picked up the Golf Writers Trophy as a result of his efforts and his remarkable rise back to the top of the golfing world means he is now one of the ones to beat in 2014.

 

Before he kicks off his new year though and bids to add a maiden major victory to his growing CV, Stenson will take on one final challenge in Thailand.

After an emotional and draining last few months, Stenson admits that he is almost running on empty but will try to squeeze out four more rounds of golf in search of a closing victory to end the year in style.

"I've had the season of my life obviously," said Stenson. "I've played some great golf from the summer onwards, and this is my last event of the year, so I hope to finish off with some good playing here.

"It's been a big year for me and it's going to take some great golfing to match that going forward."

Big finish

Stenson arrived by boat at the Royal Thai Navy Hall located on the banks of the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok ahead of the star-studded event being held at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Stenson took his career tally to 16 wins with three victories this year along with top three finishes at the Open Championship and US PGA Championship.

After a break, Stenson finished fourth at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa last week and although drained he fancies a win in his debut at the Thailand Golf Championship.

"We're kind of running on fumes at this stage, but I'll try and squeeze another good four days out of myself and my game, and try and challenge these boys for the title," Stenson added.

"I've played at Amata Spring a couple times in the past. So, at least I know the course pretty well."

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Zach Johnson's win at World Challenge lifts him into world's top 10 for first time

Zach Johnson's thrilling victory at the World Challenge has seen him crack the world's top 10 for the first time.

Johnson produced a remarkable comeback at Sherwood Country Club on Sunday as he made up a four-stroke deficit on tournament host Tiger Woods before edging out the World No.1 in a play-off.

It was a second victory in his last five starts with the 37-year-old having walked away with the BMW Championship title back in September's FedEx Cup play-offs.

That sparkling form has resulted in Johnson breaking new ground with the 2007 Masters champion climbing from 16th to ninth in the latest round of world rankings.

The American replaces Jason Day in the top 10 with the Australian dropping down to 11th spot.

European veterans Thomas Bjorn and Miguel Angel Jimenez also made significant strides after their wins in South Africa and Hong Kong respectively.

Bjorn, who clinched the Nedbank Challenge by two shots, moves from 34th to 25th, while Jimenez, who claimed the Hong Kong Open for a fourth time, rises ten places to 38th.

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Ernie Els mourns the death of his former psychologist Jos Vanstiphout

Ernie Els has paid a glowing tribute to renowned sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout, who died on Friday aged 62.

The Belgian worked with a number of high-profile golfers after proving his skills as a "mind coach" on the European Tour.

Vanstiphout worked with Retief Goosen prior to his US Open victory in 2001, when he beat Mark Brooks in an 18-hole play-off having three-putted from 12 feet on the final green in regulation.

But his most famous pupil was Els, who gave Vanstiphout huge credit for helping him win his first Open Championship crown in 2002.

"It's really devastating for me," said Els. "He meant so much to my career. We really connected and there was a genuine love for each other there.

"It was love-hate at times as everyone will know but the stuff he taught me and the way that he did it was totally different. His approach was unique and I know he got under a lot of people's skin but for me he was just brilliant.

"He gave me the absolute honest truth at exactly the times when I really needed it. The biggest one was obviously Muirfield in 2002 and he took me to one side and was just all over me.

"He just told me to pull my finger out of my backside in no uncertain terms and told me to do what he had trained me to do.

"He taught me to think in a certain way and was so good for me. He really helped me win that Open, no question. We probably won 25 tournaments together in a short period.

"I will never forget the time I shot 60 at Royal Melbourne. I walk on to the range and he is all over me again. I said 'what?' and he looked at me and he said 'you know and I know that you should have shot 58'!

"That was the way he was and he knew me very well and was one of the only people who could say that to me."

Vanstiphout had struggled with ill health since breaking his hip in a fall from a ladder two years ago, and in recent months he had complained of regular breathing difficulties.

He is believed to have suffered a heart attack on Friday, and Els added: "It's really tough. I was hoping that he would have pulled through but he had gone downhill since the accident.

"Hopefully he is in a good place right now because he was a fighter. He had a lot of bravado but deep down he was a genuine, genuine man.

"He didn't have the education but he understood the psychology of how things worked and he gave that to me.

"I will be forever grateful to him for that. He changed my life and I am really going to miss him. I know you shouldn't have regrets but I regret not seeing him before he left us."

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Henrik Stenson wins Golf Writers Trophy after memorable 2013

 

Henrik Stenson's achievements on both sides of the Atlantic in a memorable 2013 have earned him the prestigious Golf Writers Trophy.

The Swede became the first player to win both the FexExCup and the Race to Dubai, while he also posted top-three finishes in The Open and PGA Championship.

The world No 3 clinched the Race to Dubai title in style as he romped to a six-shot victory in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, and he also won the Deutsche Bank Championship and the Tour Championship in the FedExCup play-offs.

The 37-year-old claimed the Golf Writers Trophy ahead of US Open champion Justin Rose beat off competition from US Open champion Justin Rose and the victorious European Solheim Cup team.

Stenson declared it was a "huge honour" to receive the award, which recognises outstanding achievements during the year from golfers born or resident in Europe and European teams.

Reflection

"I think when you look at what others achieved like Justin and the Solheim Cup team it does make it mean that little bit more," he said.

"It's a huge honour and a great reflection on the year I had.

"I'm looking forward to getting a few of these trophies I've won into the summer house in Sweden. It has been such a great year that I can have a few in Europe and a few in my house in America.

"What a great thrill it is going to be over Christmas to sit by the fire with my family and take stock of the season, look at trophies such as this one and reflect on the year of my life."

Stenson registered almost two-thirds of the votes to claim the honour, which was won by Rory McIlroy last year, with Rose finishing second and Liselotte Neumann's team coming in third.

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Zach Johnson wins play-off to deny Tiger Woods sixth title of 2013

Zach Johnson is congratulated by Tiger Woods after his victory at the first play-off hole at Sherwood Country Club. Photograph: Frederic J Brown/AFP/Getty Images

 

The tournament host Tiger Woods was denied a sixth victory of the year when he lost the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge in a play-off with his fellow American Zach Johnson at Sherwood Country Club on Sunday.

 

Johnson, who had twice finished second to the world No1 at this event, sealed victory with a rock-solid par at the 18th, the first extra hole, where Woods lipped out with a five-footer to bogey.

 

The pair had finished the regulation 72 holes on 13-under-par 275, Woods with a 70 and Johnson, from four strokes behind, with four birdies in the last eight holes for a 68. At the 18th Johnson found water with his second, took a penalty drop but holed out from 65 yards for par. Woods, who had put his second into a greenside bunker, then had to get up and down to take the match into extra holes.

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World Challenge winners

Winners of the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge since it was first held in 1999. Zach Johnson won this year's tournament in a playoff with fellow American Tiger Woods at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, 

California on Sunday (U.S. unless stated):

2013	Zach Johnson
2012	Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland)
2011	Tiger Woods
2010	McDowell
2009	Jim Furyk
2008	Vijay Singh (Fiji)
2007	Woods
2006	Woods
2005	Luke Donald (England)
2004	Woods
2003	Davis Love III
2002	Padraig Harrington (Ireland)
2001	Woods
2000	Love
1999	Tom Lehman*
	*at the Grayhawk Golf Club, Scottsdale, Arizona

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European Tour Race to Dubai money list

Leading money winners on the 2013/2014

European Tour Race to Dubai on Tuesday:

1	Thomas Bjorn (Denmark)	795,338	euros
2	Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)	454,492
3	Jamie Donaldson (Wales)	414,478
3	Sergio Garcia (Spain)	414,478
5	Morten Orum Madsen (Denmark)	241,662
6	Henrik Stenson (Sweden)	238,602
7	Brendon de Jonge (Zimbabwe)	221,449
8	Richard Finch (England)	192,972
9	Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain)	159,063
10	Justin Rose (England)	131,231
11	Jbe Kruger (South Africa)	116,956
12	Hennie Otto (South Africa)	116,610
13	Jaidee Thongchai (Thailand)	106,894
14	Peter Uhlein (USA)	95,441
15	Ross Fisher (England)	91,020
16	Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (Spain)	87,806
17	Darren Fichardt (South Africa)	87,155
18	Simon Dyson (England)	83,980
19	Stuart Manley (Wales)	82,894
19	Prom Meesawat (Thailand)	82,894

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World Rankings

Golf-World Rankings

1	(1) Tiger Woods (U.S.)	12.34
2	(2) Adam Scott (Australia)	10.00
3	(3) Henrik Stenson (Sweden)	9.01
4	(5) Justin Rose (Britain)	7.53
5	(4) Phil Mickelson (U.S.)	7.44
6	(6) Rory McIlroy (Britain)	6.82
7	(7) Matt Kuchar (U.S.)	6.47
8	(8) Steve Stricker (U.S.)	6.04
9	(16) Zach Johnson (U.S.)	5.71
10	(9) Brandt Snedeker (U.S.)	5.52
11	(10) Jason Day (Australia)	5.50
12	(12) Graeme McDowell (Britain)	5.28
13	(11) Jason Dufner (U.S.)	5.28
14	(13) Ian Poulter (Britain)	5.26
15	(14) Dustin Johnson (U.S.)	5.02
16	(15) Luke Donald (Britain)	4.87
17	(18) Charl Schwartzel (South Africa)	4.82
18	(17) Jim Furyk (U.S.)	4.81
19	(20) Sergio Garcia (Spain)	4.68
20	(19) Keegan Bradley (U.S.)	4.54
21	(21) Webb Simpson (U.S.)	4.52
22	(22) Jordan Spieth (U.S.)	4.29
23	(23) Hideki Matsuyama (Japan)	4.01
24	(24) Lee Westwood (Britain)	3.94
25	(34) Thomas Bjorn (Denmark)	3.81
26	(26) Bubba Watson (U.S.)	3.76
27	(25) Ernie Els (South Africa)	3.75
28	(29) Jamie Donaldson (Britain)	3.72
29	(28) Bill Haas (U.S.)	3.55
30	(27) Nick Watney (U.S.)	3.45

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