VOA标准英语2010年-Four Vie at China Tourney to Top World

At this week's HSBC Champions Golf event in Shanghai, China, three players will battle to dethrone newly-minted world number one, Lee Westwood of England. All hot on the Englishman's trail are Tiger Woods of the United States - who lost the top ranking to Westwood after a record five-year run - third-ranked German Martin Kaymer and American Phil Mickelson at number four.
The elite¹ field of 78 golfers from around the globe includes 15 of the top 20 ranked players in the world. But when the tournament ends, a victory by Woods, Kaymer or Mickelson would end Westwood's reign² after just one week.
Westwood, who along with Woods was idle last week, talks about being number-one. "It's the pinnacle³ of the sport, really. It was very exciting to get there. It's one thing getting there, but it's another thing staying there. It's obviously a very close thing at the moment. It's going to be tough this week and I'll have to play well, which may not be easy because I'm bound to be a bit rusty⁴ as I have not played a lot just recently."Westwood has been able to play just a limited amount of late because he has been resting nagging⁵ calf⁶ and ankle injuries.
In falling to number two, Woods has gone 51 weeks and 12 tournaments without a victory, which is the longest drought of his career. With a win this week, though, he can not only reclaim⁷ the number one ranking, but also avoid getting shut out in a season on the PGA Tour for the first time in his career. "I come to every event with the same intention - that's winning the golf tournament," said Woods. "Whether I'm ranked number one or not, it hasn't changed, and it never will. That's why I come to events - to try to get the "W" (win). It's a hell of a field this week and it's going to be a lot of fun going out there and competing and try to win the event."Many believe Kaymer has a good shot at taking over as number one after winning three of his last four tournaments. He won the PGA Championship and three times on the European Tour to compile the most victories this season.
Mickelson has won the HSBC Champions twice in the last three years and is the defending champion. He is finally feeling better again after being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis⁸. He has been on medication, which he said has taken eight weeks to fully⁹ work. But now the fourth-ranked American says he is finally feeling back to normal.
However, you can never count out a player like Woods. It's been nearly a year since a vehicle accident last Thanksgiving night sent Woods' life into a tailspin. The ensuing revelations of multiple affairs resulted in the loss of endorsements¹⁰, a sabbatical from the game, poor play when he returned - and eventually, a divorce from his wife Elin. But after everything he has gone through, Woods said he is much more balance now. "Certainly, I've had a more introspective look at myself and where I was and where I wanted to go. And trying to understand all that and trying to become better as a person, I think, is not an easy process. But it is a process in which when you come out the other side, you feel so much better."Regardless of who wins and earns the number-one ranking, one thing is certain about this year's HSBC Champions. It will be a real treat for golf fans everywhere.

1 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

2 reign   

n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势

参考例句：

• The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。
• The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

3 pinnacle   

n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰

参考例句：

• Now he is at the very pinnacle of his career.现在他正值事业中的顶峰时期。
• It represents the pinnacle of intellectual capability.它代表了智能的顶峰。

4 rusty   

adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的

参考例句：

• The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。
• I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。

5 nagging   

adj.唠叨的，挑剔的；使人不得安宁的v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的现在分词 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责

参考例句：

• Stop nagging—I'll do it as soon as I can. 别唠叨了—我会尽快做的。
• I've got a nagging pain in my lower back. 我后背下方老是疼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 calf   

n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮

参考例句：

• The cow slinked its calf.那头母牛早产了一头小牛犊。
• The calf blared for its mother.牛犊哞哞地高声叫喊找妈妈。

7 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

8 arthritis   

n.关节炎

参考例句：

• Rheumatoid arthritis has also been linked with the virus.风湿性关节炎也与这种病毒有关。
• He spent three months in the hospital with acute rheumatic arthritis.他患急性风湿性关节炎，在医院住了三个月。

9 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

10 endorsements   

n.背书( endorsement的名词复数 )；（驾驶执照上的）违章记录；（公开的）赞同；（通常为名人在广告中对某一产品的）宣传

参考例句：

• He must make much money on those tennis shoe endorsements he does. 他替那些网球鞋珍重广告，就赚了不少钱。 来自互联网
• But celebrity endorsements remain an important promotional tool for marketers. 尽管如此，邀明星助阵仍是营销人员重要的推广手段之一。 来自互联网