Tiger Woods [Images] will head into the Doral Open on Thursday with the opportunity for the third week running to reclaim the number one world ranking.

But with 11 of the world's top 12 teeing it up, the slightest slip on the famed Blue Monster layout could just as easily send Woods tumbling down the tightly packed standings to third place.

The only top player not making the trip to Miami [Images] this year is 2002 champion Ernie Els but the world number three could still have a big impact on what the rankings look like next week depending on his result half a world away at the Dubai Open.

Woods's focus, however, will be on the Doral and a field that will be as competitive as any seen at the majors.

Joining Woods in Miami will be world number one Vijay Singh [Images], Phil Mickelson, winner of back-to-back events last month in Phoenix and Pebble Beach, South Africa's Retief Goosen, Spain's Sergio Garcia and in-form David Toms.

Toms shot from 16th to ninth in the rankings on the strength of his victory at last week's World Match Play Championships in California.

A pair of Australians could also be factors.

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Adam Scott, winner of the Nissan Open, has been in top form and Craig Parry returns to defend the title he won with a dramatic eagle on the first hole of a playoff last year.

A win at Doral would put Woods back to world number one as would a second-place finish and Singh placing outside the top five. Woods will also return to the top if he finishes in a tie for second and Singh places outside the top 23.

Els, however, could replace Woods at number two if he wins in Dubai and the eight-time major winner finishes lower than tied for third.

"The number one ranking is really not that important to me," Woods said a week ago at the Nissan Open. "It's winning. Winning is how I got to be number one in the world rankings.

"Winning is how Vijay got to be number one."

There will be no shortage of champions in Miami with the winners of six of this year's first seven PGA Tour events in the field -- Singh, Woods, Mickelson (two wins), Scott and Justin Leonard.

While Woods has downplayed the importance of the number one ranking, the 29-year-old makes no effort to hide his desire to be recognised as golf's top player having held top spot for a record 264 consecutive weeks before being dethroned by Singh last September.

But twice in the last two weeks he has seen opportunities to reclaim the number one ranking slip through his fingers.

At the Nissan Open, Woods's bid was derailed by torrential rain that shortened the tournament to 36 holes.

Last weekend it was Australia's Nick O'Hern who put his return on hold with a second-round upset at the World Match Play Championships.

Still few are betting against Woods getting the job done this weekend in Miami.

"I wasn't over here when Phil Mickelson won the two events, obviously Phil has been playing great," said Parry. "I played with Tiger and Vijay in the Mercedes. I said to my brother and my wife, I said, 'Tiger's playing unbelievable'.

"A betting man would back Tiger, the way he's playing.