Old rival Ogilvy keen to capitalise on Tiger's absence, says No 1 ranking is up for grabs
With Woods last month announcing he is to take an indefinite leave of absence from golf as he attempts to rescue his marriage following his admission of infidelities, his four-and-a-half-year stranglehold on golf's top ranking could come under threat. And Australian Ogilvy believes he could be one of the players able to take advantage.
"I think it's an interesting time. Number one in the world might be up for realistic grabs this year, depending on how it all takes shape," the world number 14 said ahead of his title defence at the season-opening SBS Championship.
"I am definitely one of those guys; when I play my best, I can play with anyone."
Woods' absence from the season opener is no real surprise, the American having not played the event in each of the previous four years, but Ogilvy believes Tiger sightings at golf tournaments in 2010 will be few and far between.
"Even if he does come back (in 2010), I imagine it will be a very limited schedule. Even if he comes back and wins, nobody knows what's going to happen.
"A lot of guys will be thinking 'here is my year'."
Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open champion, got off to a fast start last year by winning this event, then sponsored by Mercedes Benz, and followed it up in February by beating England's Paul Casey in the final to secure World Golf Championship-Accenture Match Play victory.
Yet the 32-year-old enjoyed little success thereafter, and regaining some consistency in his game is the key objective for 2010.
"I have had periods that are a bit inconsistent where I can't compete with anyone at all, or I just play average and I have to get rid of those periods," Ogilvy said.
"My good periods are great but the players who get to the top two or three in the world stay there and play well. They do well when they're not playing their best.
"I think I am more capable and I think I get better most years. So I think it's definitely feasible," said Ogilvy.
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