Stenson in cross-Atlantic struggle for top berth

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson is engaged in a cross-Atlantic struggle for the world number one ranking this week. Stenson is third in the list and playing at the European PGA Championship at Wentworth which starts on Thursday whilst his main rival for top spot – the Australian Adam Scott - is in the United States. Scott claimed the top ranking last week from Tiger Woods who is out injured and is playing in the PGA Tour event at Colonial in Texas. If Stenson finishes higher in England than Scott does in America he could overhaul the Australian because the European Tour’s main event carries bonus ranking points. But Stenson admits it is not his current form that has put him in with a chance but his brilliant finish to last year when he won twice in the United States and in Dubai giving him the FedEx Cup and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai award. “It is definitely there,” Stenson told reporters. “I haven’t given it too much thought. I have been trying to work on my game and get back in good shape because I know if I get my game to where I want to have it that is definitely an achievable thing in the future. “If I were to become number one now it is not because of the first three or four months of the season. It is mainly because of what I did last year.” “I am more into trying to focus on the processes of playing good golf and giving myself the best chance to become world number one. “If I can win some tournaments this year I will have a good shot at getting there – whether you want to try and squeeze a tie for 14th and get there by a 100th of a point – I don’t know if that gives you greater satisfaction or not.” Stenson received the European Players’ Player of the Year Award at a ceremony in London on Tuesday night but admits time is running out if he is to win his first major championship. His best showing since making his majors debut in 2001 is finishing in a tie for second at the British Open at Muirfield last year – one of seven top-10s overall. The 38-year old added: “I hope I have got three, four or five good years ahead of me and that will be 15 to 20 majors. "Hopefully I will play well enough in a bunch of them and be up there and give myself a chance. It is hard to pinpoint one or two weeks in a year when you know you are going to play your best. "It is about preparation and trying to the right things leading up to them and hopefully they will pay off." Matt Kuchar is the third player who could be number one by the end of the week but the American would have to win in Texas to be in with a chance. Source: AFP