Los Angeles: When Phil Mickelson tees off at this week's Colonial Invitational at Fort Worth in Texas, the American left-hander will have another chance to replace Tiger Woods as world number one.
Woods, who has steadily dropped ranking points this year, is sidelined with a lingering neck injury and Mickelson would take over at the top should he secure victory at Colonial Country Club, a venue where he triumphed in 2000 and 2008.
"A win for Phil would do it," Ian Barker, the European Tour's director of information services, said. "However, second place alone would almost certainly not be enough unless the field at the Colonial is considerably stronger than last year."
A fortnight ago, second-ranked Mickelson had an opportunity to dethrone the 14-times major champion at the Players Championship in Florida. Victory, would have done the trick.
Although a battling Woods failed to finish the tournament, Mickelson failed to deliver his side of the bargain. Overall, though, Mickelson has been the game's standout player over the last nine months and, in the eyes of many, a deserving world number one.
Bryon Nelson Championships
Leading first round scores (figures indicate number of holes finished for players yet to complete rounds)
- -4 Jason Day (Australia) 18 66
- Joe Durant (US) 18 66
- Steve Elkington (Australia) 16
- Hunter Mahan (US) 15
- Jarrod Lyle (Australia) 11
- -3 Dustin Johnson (US) 18 67
- Jay Williamson (US) 18 67
- Marc Leishman (Australia) 18 67
- Tommy Armour III (US) 16
- PGA Championship, Wentworth (first round)
- 65 Danny Willett (Britain)
- 66 Richard Green (Australia)
- 67 Ross Fisher (Britain), Richie Ramsay (Britain), S.S.P. Chowrasia (India)
- Steve Webster (Britain)
- 68 James Kingston (South Africa),
- Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium),
- Luke Donald (Britain), Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark), Fredrik Andersson Hed (Sweden) Gareth Maybin (Britain), Thomas Aiken (South Africa).
