European Number One Lee Westwood is within striking distance of the World Number Three position this week while the field for the Open de España also have the chance to pick up valuable World Ranking points.
Westwood needs to finish outright fourth in the Quail Hollow Championship on the US PGA Tour to overtake Steve Stricker in the Official World Golf Ranking. Westwood is only 0.029 behind the American, currently out of action through a collarbone injury, and a fourth alone or better will take Westwood, who finished runner-up in the Masters Tournament on his last outing, up to a career high of third.
The field for the Open de España, meanwhile, includes four players from the world’s top 50 and 11 from the top 100, and 24 World Ranking Points are available to the winner at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla. Thomas Levet secured the same number of points last year and subsequently jumped 65 places in the Official World Golf Ranking to 111th following his victory at PGA Golf Catalunya 12 months ago
This week, Levet is aiming to become the first player to successfully defend the Open de España since it became part of The European Tour in 1972 as he tries to extend his lead at the top of the all-time list of most prolific French winners. He currently has five victories to his name, his last two coming on Spanish soil in the 2008 Open de Andalucia and 2009 Open de Espana. Should he win in Spain, it would be his third consecutive season with a victory, matching the French record of Gregory Bourdy, who has won in each of the last three seasons.
For the World Ranking Points available this week in the Open de España, visit the Tournament Stats sectionhere.
