Phil Mickelson wears a pink ribbon for cancer on the side of his cap during the first round of the St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, June 11, 2009.NIKKI BOERTMAN
Phil Mickelson has yet another chance this weekend to dethrone Tiger Woods atop the World Golf Rankings.
Mickelson can end Woods' 259 week reign as the number one player in the world with a victory this weekend at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. He would join David Duval and Vijay Singh as the only other players to hold the number one ranking in the last 12 years.
"That would be pretty cool", Mickelson told reporters on Wednesday. "It's something that we as golfers all strive to be recognized for in the rankings as the best player. It would certainly mean a lot because I have not done that in my career. It would be an accomplishment, I think I would look back on, and be very proud of."
Mickelson has been the number two ranked golfer in the world for 244 weeks. He'll be seeking his third win at Colonial and first since 2008. He withdrew from last year's tournament in order to be with his wife, who is battling breast cancer.
Based on the ranking's point system, a second place finish would leave Mickelson just 0.15 points behind Woods, who has not played since withdrawing from The Players Championship earlier this month with a neck injury.
Should Woods lose his grip on the top spot, he will get a chance to go head-to-head against Mickelson in two of the next three weeks. His first chance would be at next week's Memorial. The two are also scheduled to play at the U.S. Open, which starts June 17.