New SI Golf Rankings

Sports Illustrated has released a new rankings system for the top ten professional golfers in the world. The new ratings are determined by votes from golf writers similar to the AP college football poll. SI's poll will be more contemporary than the current Official World Golf Rankings that Lee Westwood is sitting atop of. However, Westwood has failed to convert a victory worldwide since winning in Memphis last June. He has performed very well in nearly every event he has entered for the past two years, but he has only one win to show for it. Martin Kaymer, on the other hand, is ranked first in SI's poll, and I could not agree more with their opinion. He holds four victories in his last eight appearances, including the PGA Championship. Those numbers do not even include a Kaymer win last January and top ten finishes at the U.S. and British Opens. Westwood is a very strong player currently, but he has as many wins since 2003 as Kaymer has in the past year. Like the BCS computer rankings, few people understand the OWGR formula. Hence SI's new poll gives a more accurate up-to-date and accurate feel of who the hottest golfer is today. Check out the top ten at http://blogs.golf.com/presstent/2011/02/sigolf-ranking-martin-kaymer-no-1.html .

Kaymer could overtake Westwood in the OWGR during this week's Qatar Masters. The impressive field includes both Kaymer and Westwood along with Steve Stricker, John Daly, Retief Goosen, Darren Clarke, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Alvaro Quiros. Tune into the Golf Channel to follow the drama.

State-side, the Waste Management Phoenix Open will be staged starring Phil Mickelson, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson, Jhonny Vegas, Nick Watney, Anthony Kim, Hunter Mahan, Fred Couples, and Tom Lehman. Last year's finish thrilled the Bird's Nest at 16, and this year's competition looks to be just as exciting. Catch all the weekend action on CBS.