Lee Westwood was assured of toppling Tiger Woods as world number one yesterday when Martin Kaymer failed to finish in the top two in the European Tour’s Andalucia Masters tournament.

The 37-year-old Englishman was already certain, under the complex world rankings system, of moving ahead of Woods who had been number one for the last five years.

But with Westwood not playing in Spain last week, Germany’s newly-crowned US PGA champion Kaymer had the chance of taking the top spot with a first or second place finish at the Valderrama course.

After rounds of 72, 74 and 70 though Kaymer was nine shots off the pace going into yesterday’s final round with little hope of achieving his goal.

A closing effort of four over 75 left him well down the field and as soon as he completed his round it was clear that Westwood would be the new world number one, the first European player to hold that position since Nick Faldo in 1994.

Westwood will be challenged to hold on to top spot this week when he, Woods, Kaymer and Phil Mickelson all tee off in the star-studded HSBC Champions trophy in Shanghai.

The Ryder Cup star will be the fifth player to displace the American atop the rankings, but the first since Woods went back to the top replacing Fiji’s Vijay Singh in June 2005.

Despite once again failing to win a major this year, Westwood has been the most consistent golfer in the world with runner-up finishes in the Masters and at the British Open.