The English golfer ended the American golf legend's 281-week reign at the top of the rankings when he became world number one for the first time in 2010 and said that it was "the icing on the cake" to surpass the 15-time major winner.

Westwood told Golf Monthly magazine: "Certainly taking it from Tiger Woods was the icing on the cake really. It meant a little bit more.

"He was still at the height of his game, so whenever you can get to a point where you say you're the best in the world, it is obviously a very special moment."

He continued: "I actually lost it and then won it back, so I've been World No.1 twice. It's a position that very few people get to be in and very few people understand how great it is.

"It's a real honour to be in that position, because you stop representing yourself and you start representing the game of golf."

Westwood has tasted victory in more than 20 countries during his career and is grateful that golf has given him the opportunity to travel the world.

The seven-time Ryder Cup winner said: "It was never my goal to be a member of the PGA Tour or to play in America all the time. I wanted to be a global player.

"I've been a member of the European Tour and wanted to go and play in Asia, Australia, South Africa and places like that.

"We're not on earth for a long time. It's a short time comparatively and I wanted to see as much of the world as I could.

"Golf gave me a great vehicle to be able to do that. I've played on some of the greatest golf courses in the world, against some of the greatest players, in some of the greatest championships. I said to somebody the other day it's been like being on a 34-year lads' golfing holiday."