Briton Lee Westwood will knock Woods off the top after an unprecedented 281-week reign when the new rankings are published on Monday.
“It’s fantastic. It’s a great change and it’s a change for global golf,” Norman told reporters at the Mission Hills pro-celebrity tournament in Hainan, southern China.
“No disrespect to Tiger. He’s fired up to come back. He’s been through a tough time and his golf has gone through a tough time and you can’t stay number one forever,” added the 55-year-old Australian.
“It doesn’t make any difference that Lee has not won a major. He’s been a consistent performer and Tiger hasn’t won a tournament in a year — does that make him worthy of the number one title?” added Norman, nicknamed ‘the Great White Shark’.
“You can sit back and question everything but the numbers stack up and Lee’s performed consistently week in week out, more than anyone else.”
Westwood, who turned professional in 1993, has won 20 European Tour titles. He has not won a major but finished runner up at this year’s British Open and US Masters and was a member of Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup team earlier this month.
Woods, a 14-times major winner, has struggled for form since his private life unraveled at the end of last year amid revelations of marital infidelities.
