Scott warns against writing off Tiger

Golf’s world No.1 ranking has become a status symbol disputed by others but Adam Scott thinks it’s way too premature to write off Tiger Woods.

Woods has not won for nearly 16 months - since the 2009 Australian Masters - and has slipped to fifth in the world rankings, prompting increasing speculation that his best days are behind him.

But former world No.3 Scott says it’s pertinent that none of the four players ahead of Woods have been dominant in anything like the manner of the old Tiger.

“He’s coming off his worst year and until recently he was still No. 2 in the world,” said Scott ahead of this week’s WGC- Cadillac Championship in Florida.

“I don’t take anything away from anyone else. Everyone else has got better but no-one’s stepped up to a level even close to where Tiger’s been.

“Look at the world ranking points. He’s come back to everyone else.”

Indeed he has. Immediately after he won at Kingston Heath in 2009 -less than two weeks before his personal life fell apart in the wake of revelations of multiple affairs - Woods had a rankings points average of 16.17.

By October 31 last year, when Woods finally relinquished the No.1 ranking to Lee Westwood after 281 consecutive weeks at the top (and 623 weeks in all), his average had dropped to 8.13 points. But Westwood was only marginally better, with 8.29 points.

Current world No.1 Martin Kaymer has 8.24 points, while Woods has slipped to 6.12 points.

In other words, Woods’ form has declined but no on else has taken the game by the throat.

Which suggests that Woods can regain top spot if he just gets back to somewhere near his old form.

His all-time best points average was 32.44 in June, 2001.

Its hard to envisage him approaching that level again, but even if he can lift his points average to 10, that would probably be enough to become top dog again.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that 35-year-old Woods will do that. But you’d be brave to bet against it.

“No-one’s got to 15 or 16 points, like where Tiger was at, Scott said.

“I think the whole world is stuck in this mindset that everyone gets everything immediately.

“This game has never been like that. It’s such a long career.

“I think Tiger’s going to be at or near the top of the world rankings for his whole career.”

The world rankings are based on performances over the previous two years, with greater importance assigned to recent tournaments.