Graeme McDowell could head into the first major of the year at Augusta as the new world number three following his elevation up the rankings this weekend. The Ulsterman will battle it out with Luke Donald for the number three spot but both should climb above former number one Tiger Woods as his winless streak stretched to 18 tournaments following his first round exit in Tuscan this week at the WGC Match Play event and the US Masters betting 2011 suggests he won't have any respite in that tournament either.
Despite overtaking Tiger in the rankings, G-Mac is realistic about his new place in world golf and the Irishman isn't in any doubt as to whether he is better than Woods.
"I'm perhaps a better golfer than Tiger in the last 12 months but he's the greatest player. If someone told me at some point in my career I would be number three in the world I'd be proud of that fact," he said.
McDowell reached the last 16 of the Match Play event alongside Donald and the Irishman will be one of the favourites to lift the title that Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter won last year. Despite his good form the US Masters betting suggests the bookies don't fancy McDowell to have much of a chance at the US Masters in April.
Plenty of punters will have a flutter on the Irishman though, especially after a year which has seen him climb from world number 50 up to his current lofty position. He became the first European player to taste success at the US Open for 40 years and followed that up by sinking the winning put at the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor later in the year to hand Europe the trophy.
Elsewhere in the rankings, there could be another change at the top with Martin Kaymer in with a chance of replacing Lee Westwood as world number one. The German will need to reach the final in Tuscan to clinch the top spot but Hunter Mahan won't be a walkover in their last 16 match this weekend.
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