One of the most dominant runs in sport came to an end yesterday when Tiger Woods finally gave way to Vijay Singh after a record run of 334 weeks as world number one - and a record 264 consecutive weeks.

Singh shot a final round 69 to hold off the challenge of Woods and Adam Scott to claim the number one spot for the first time with victory in the Deutsche Bank Championship in Norton, Massachusetts.

Singh finished on 16 under par 268 with Woods and Scott three back on 271. Woods has been the game's leading player for more than five years, but lost his number one ranking to Singh after the Fijian sealed victory yesterday.

USPGA champion Singh trailed Woods by just 0.18 in world ranking points going into the tournament and for Woods to retain the number one status he has held since August 15th, 1999, the eight-times major winner needed to finish in the top seven at the Deutsche Bank, and above Singh.

For many observers, Singh has unquestionably been the game's leading player for some time. He has won nine PGA Tour events over the last two years. Woods has won six.

In that same period, the tall Fijian has secured one major title, last month's USPGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. Woods has not won a major since the 2002 US Open.

At the end of last season, Singh ended Woods's four-year reign as the PGA Tour's leading money winner. He also leads the 2004 money list, with earnings of $6,989,566, and is on track to run away with the prestigious Player of the Year award.

Woods has monopolised the world rankings since reclaiming the top spot with his one-shot victory in the 1999 USPGA championship at Medinah.

World ranking points are accumulated over a two-year period, with points awarded in the most recent 13-week spell doubled.

Each player is ranked according to his average points per tournament, points being weighted according to the status of the event and strength of the field.