06 September,2010 08:56 AM IST | | AFP
Tiger Woods was in danger of losing his five-year grip on golf's world number one ranking to Phil Mickelson or Steve Stricker in today's last round of the PGA Deutsche Bank Championship.
Woods fired a two-under par 69 on Sunday to share 23rd place and trail leader Jason Day of Australia by 10 strokes after 54 holes of the second stage of the US playoff system leading to the Tour Championship. But the event and playoff chase were overshadowed by the possibility of Woods losing his top spot just two weeks after his divorce from Elin Nordegren and in the wake of the sex scandal that destroyed his iconic image.
Should either fourth-ranked Stricker or second-ranked Mickelson win the Deutsche Bank crown and fellow American Woods finishes far enough back, the 14-time major champion's 273-week reign atop the rankings would be over. Day birdied the par-five 18th to fire a five-under 66 and stand on 17-under 196 after 54 holes, one stroke better than Brandt Snedeker, who shot a 67, and two ahead of Luke Donald, who fired a 66. But defending champion Stricker stood fourth on 200, one stroke ahead of Mickelson after each fired a 67, putting both men in prime position for the finish they need to overtake Woods.
