If no one wants the No. 1 ranking, maybe Lee Westwood will take it.

We’ve been doing complicated math -- for journalists all math is complicated -- before every tournament to determine what Phil Mickelson needs to do to wrest the No. 1 ranking from Tiger Woods. And each time, after Mickelson pretends it doesn’t really matter to him, Woods maintains the ranking. With both Woods and Mickelson slumping, Westwood is now in the mix for No. 1, according to The Guardian (UK) newspaper.

Lee Westwood could become the world No. 1 with victory in next week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

Less than one point now separates the world's top three golfers – Westwood, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson – and any of the three could be No. 1 after the event in Ohio.

Westwood, the world No. 3, has been in fine form this year, finishing in the top 25 in eight of his 10 Tour events in 2010, and has closed the gap on the current No. 1, Woods, who has held the position for the past 268 weeks.

Westwood’s been a far more consistent player this year than Woods or Mickelson, but he’s never won a major, despite some close calls, so that No. 1 ranking will carry an asterisk. Of course, Westwood could take care of both matters with a win at the PGA Championship in a few weeks.

Amy Winehouse says no to drugs, yes to golf

If I was making a list of famous people least likely to play golf, I’d put Amy Winehouse near the top with Pope Benedict and Lil Wayne, but the British soul singer is taking up the game to keep her mind off booze and drugs, according to The Sun (UK).

The singer ventured on to the fairway for the first time recently and liked it so much she plans to take up the game.

A pal said: "She played nine holes and loved it, she had a natural swing. Amy wants to learn how to play properly."

Welcome to the game, Amy, we’re glad to have you. But if you’re playing golf to keep off drugs stay away from the caddies. And if you’re playing to keep off alcohol, stay away from everybody.

Bernard Langer says 2011 British Open course might be too long for him

As winner of the Senior British Open last week, Bernhard Langer gets an automatic invite to the Open Championship at Royal St. George’s next year. One problem though, the 52-year-old two-time Masters champions thinks the course might be too long for him, according to The Scotsman newspaper.

After recording his first success in a senior major, the two-time Masters champion hinted he may not take up his place at Royal St George's.

"I might show up and, if I did, I would hopefully play decent," said Langer after securing a first prize of just over £200,000 in Angus. "I'll have to look at my schedule but another factor I'll have to take into account is the length of the course.

"It's a fairly long golf course so that's not going to suit me. Being a senior, these guys hit it 30-40 yards past me."

Stray Shots

Some things we noticed while trying to not to get caught between Carl Pettersson and a pepperoni pizza...

President Obama braved the sweltering summer heat to play a round of golf, only to get hit by a thunderstorm on the back nine, just like every other golfer on the East Coast last week. (Via The Washington Post)

Greg Norman allegedly didn’t give severance benefits to workers whom he canned. There’s a reason they call him the Shark and not the Porpoise. (Via The Herald Sun)

Morgan “Tiger” Pressel drops some f-bombs at the Evian Masters in France. (Via Wei Under Par)