Lee Westwoods imminent rise to the world No. 1 ranking will cap a year in which golfs balance of power has tipped from America back to Europe, Colin Montgomerie said Tuesday. Highlights included regaining the Ryder Cup, Graeme McDowell winning the U.S. Open and Martin Kaymer the U.S. PGA Championship. And though British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen was South African, he was also a European Tour member, Montgomerie noted at a charity golf event.
"Its a changing of the guard over to Europe," he said.
Westwood, a member of the winning Ryder Cup team, is expected to take over the top spot from Tiger Woods on Nov. 1 - if he rests his right ankle injury for the rest of the month and if Woods follows his schedule of not playing before the HSBC Champions in Shanghai from Nov. 4-7.
