Rory Mcllroy can go back to world number one this week with victory at the Genisis Invitational.
McIlroy lost the top spot after Scottie Scheffler's victory at last week's Waste Management Phoenix Opne.
Masters Champion Scheffler produced a big final round to hold off both Jon Rahm and Nick Taylor.
McIlroy became number one for the ninth time by successfully defending his CJ Cup title in October, the Northern Irishman reaching the summit after an absence of more than two years courtesy of his 23rd PGA Tour title and will have to battle past Tiger Woods who returns to the field this week.
Victory in January’s Dubai Desert Classic helped McIlroy remain number one until Scheffler defended his WM Phoenix Open title last weekend, the American moving 0.5 points ahead of McIlroy.
However, if McIlroy wins the Genesis Invitational he will overhaul Scheffler regardless of the latter’s result, while outright third place would be good enough for McIlroy unless Scheffler finishes in the top 25 or Jon Rahm wins or is outright second.
Rahm can also become number one with a win or solo second in one of the PGA Tour’s “elevated” events, which features a prize fund of €18.8million and has attracted 19 of the world’s top 20.
Open champion Cameron Smith is the only absentee, while world number 23 Joaquin Niemann is unable to defend his title after joining Smith on the Saudi-funded LIV Golf circuit.
The elevated events are a key part of the PGA Tour’s response to the threat posed by LIV, but Woods concedes they have generated “mixed emotions” as questions remain about the future format and access for lower ranked players.
“We are in the process of figuring all that out and it’s been a variety of different models, different opinions, trying to figure out what is the best product and competitive environment and what we should do going forward,” Woods said.
“Yes, limited fields, what’s the number? Cuts? Yes or no. What’s the number, what do we go to? How many players are playing the event? What is the ability to get into the designated events?
“How is Jay (Monahan, PGA Tour commissioner) able to sell our product to all the different sponsors across the board? There’s so much give and take. It’s still ongoing.
“It’s been difficult. A lot of the players have been very forthright which is great, it’s the way it should be.”
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