Lee Westwood celebrates ascent to world No 1

Westwood will be officially confirmed as the new world No 1 this morning after Martin Kaymer failed to achieve the top-two finish required in the Andalucia Masters.

Kaymer needed to win or share second place with no more than one other player if he, rather than the absent Westwood, was to succeed Tiger Woods when the American's 281-week reign ends this week. But the USPGA champion never threatened to do so and was outside the top 20 when he signed for a closing 75 at Valderrama yesterday.

Westwood had been keeping an eye on Kaymer's progress all week, and that extended to monitoring the European Tour's website in Sainsbury's as he ran errands yesterday. The champagne duly flowed at home later as Westwood reflected on a remarkable turnaround in fortunes which sees him become Europe's first No 1 since Nick Faldo in 1994, seven years after slumping to 266th in the rankings. Asked if it was the most satisfying moment in his career, the 37-year-old said: "Yes I think so. It's a dream everyone has to say there is nobody better than me at the moment. You have to say it's a highlight.

More: Westwood at Number 1

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"It's a great honour and a big responsibility. It certainly sounds and feels good right now. When you are growing up and people say what do you want to achieve, everyone says I want to be the best in the world. Right at this moment I can show people the world rankings and say I am."

Westwood will quickly come face to face with the man he deposed as world No 1, with Woods among the field at the forthcoming WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.