Tiger Woods unfazed by Phil Mickelson threat to number one ranking

Andrew Both Reuters 05/04/2010 15:36

World number one Tiger Woods, who missed the cut at last week's Quail Hollow Championship, said he will not be fazed if his 258-week reign at the head of the rankings is ended by Phil Mickelson Sunday.

U.S. Masters champion Mickelson can dethrone the 14-times major winner if he triumphs at this week's Players Championship in Florida and Woods finishes outside the top five in the tournament dubbed the 'fifth major'.

"I've had it happen before," Woods told a news conference on Tuesday, referring to David Duval and Vijay Singh.

"The whole idea to be No. 1 and continue being No. 1, you have to win tournaments and I haven't done that in a while."

"We've been going at it for 13 years. "It's gone in streaks where I'll get him, he'll get me and it goes in little spurts. Right now he's won a few and hopefully I can win a few myself."

Woods, who recently returned to golf after a break of five months following revelations about extra-marital affairs, appeared subdued during his 21-minute appearance in front of the media.