BOSTON: 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 Monday’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 Sunday to fire a five-under 66 and stand on 17-under 196 after 54 holes, one stroke better than American Brandt Snedeker, who shot a 67, and two ahead of England’s Luke Donald, who fired a 66.

But defending Deutsche Bank 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 would need to overtake Woods.

For Stricker to claim the top spot, he must win the 7.5 million-dollar event and also have Woods finish outside the top nine and Mickelson not place among the top three.

Mickelson has his 10th opportunity of the year to overtake Woods and become world number one for the first time.

He could do so with a victory, as a runner-up if Woods is outside the top three, if he is third and Woods is outside the top nine or with a fourth-place showing provided Woods is not in the top four and Stricker does not win.

Woods has been atop the rankings since just before the 2005 US Open, but has gone winless since last November’s eruption of the scandal taht saw him admit cheating on his wife with multiple mistresses, make a public apology seen worldwide and return to golf last April at the Masters.

Joining Mickelson on 201 were Australians Geoff Ogilvy and Adam Scott, who each fired 65s Sunday, and South Korean Charlie Wie.

The tournament also is the last event before US Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin names his captain’s picks on Tuesday for the American team that will take on Europe next month in Wales. Woods is expected to be among those selections.

Woods stood at 56th in the US PGA playoff points chase projections, so a solid final round should be enough to advance him to next week’s event in Chicago, the BMW Championship, where Woods is the defending champion.

Woods would need to be among the top 70 in season points after Monday’s final round to advance to the BMW, after which the field will be trimmed to 30 for the Tour Championship two weeks later in Atlanta.

Courtesy:  AFP