Spectator Sport: Top hole

Rory McIlroy used to be the world’s best golfer. He bagged the No. 1 ranking by winning the Honda Classic in Florida at the start of the month. It was a dream realised. Already a major championship winner, he held off a magnificent final-day charge by Tiger Woods to claim the top spot in the world. But that was then… no longer can McIlroy say that he is the planet’s best golfer. Luke Donald has reclaimed the ­position. Donald’s victory in Florida’s thrillingly named Transitions Championship last weekend means he is the big dog on tour because the rankings, according to those who ­compile them, don’t lie. Of course they don’t.

So Britain has the two best players in the world. We also have the player ranked No. 3, Lee Westwood, and, in case it passed you by, the new world No. 8 is Justin Rose. Remember him? The boy who had his backside pinched by a giggling schoolgirl when he came fourth in the Open Championship as an amateur in 1998 is now the man who won the World Golf Championship event at Doral two weeks ago.