Phil Mickelson doesn’t even have to win to take the No. 1 ranking from Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open this week.
Mickelson can seize the top spot with a second- or third-place finish.
Here’s how it’s laid out by the folks who run the Official World Golf Ranking:
Tiger Woods has been World No. 1 for the last 262 weeks and for a total of 604 weeks in his career, but Phil Mickelson has closed the gap to just 0.55 average points. We can project Tiger and Phil’s possible results at the US Open this week with the following outcomes:
• Phil wins, he’s the new No. 1.
• Phil is 2nd alone, then he’s No. 1 if Tiger is outside the Top 4,
• Phil is 3rd alone, then he’s No. 1 if Tiger is outside the Top 18.
• If Tiger misses the cut, then the minimum Phil needs is a two-way tie for third place to become World No. 1.