683 WEEKS AT WORLD NUMBER ONE

“Insane” is how Rory Mcilroy describes Woods’ combined 13 years at the top of the world rankings. First came the 264-week stretch between August 1999 and September 2004, before another 281 weeks between June 2005 and October 2010.

“I’m very proud that I’ve spent two years of my career at the top of the world rankings, which is a pretty nice feeling,” said Mcilroy, after reclaiming the top spot earlier this year. “But Tiger’s 683, I can’t fathom.” Mcilroy is one of only four players to spend at least 100 weeks at World No.1 since the creation of the Official World Golf Ranking in 1986.

Since the last of Woods’ 11 spells at the top in 2013, the number one position has changed 28 times. The likes of Mcilroy, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka have all threatened to break free from the pack, but it’s been something of a merry-go-round.

No one could dislodge Woods because he kept winning – it’s that simple. Thirty-two PGA Tour titles came in a devastating five-year period between 1999 and 2003, during which time his win ratio topped 40 per cent.

Greg Norman sits second on the record list having racked up 331 weeks as World No.1. Dustin Johnson has 102, Sir Nick Faldo managed 97 and the great Seve 61. As Mcilroy says, 683 is something extraordinary.