Woods closing in on No.1 spot

Woods, who has spent a record 623 weeks as world No.1 during his career up to now, last held the top spot on October 30, 2010, before England’s Lee Westwood took the ranking from him.

In the time since, three other players, Martin Kaymer, Luke Donald and McIlroy, have held the top spot, with the latter having been there for the 31 weeks.

However, Woods can end the Northern Irishman’s reign – and his own long absence – by winning at Bay Hill this week. You would be mad to bet against him doing just that, too.

Woods has won this particular event seven times in his career and goes into this week as defending champion following his outstanding win last year. Twice a winner already this year, he will also equal Sam Snead’s PGA Tour record of eight victories in a single event if he can retain his title.

During his last outing at the WGC-Cadillac Championship, Woods appeared to have finally rediscovered his touch on the greens, requiring just 100 putts to rack up his 17th World Golf Championship win. Assuming he can repeat that trick this week, he will be especially difficult to beat.

McIlroy is taking the week off and isn’t scheduled to play again until next week’s Shell Houston Open.

Of course, Woods won’t have it all his own way this week. Also in the field is the reigning FedEx Cup champion Brandst Snedeker – making his first appearance in five weeks after an enforced layoff with a rib injury – as well as Open champion Ernie Els, Lee Westwood, Hunter Mahan and Phil Mickelson.

Scotland’s Martin Laird, winner of the tournament in 2011, will also be taking his place in the field and the Glasgow man will be hoping that playing on a course where he has such fond memories will help him arrest a desperate run of form which has seen him miss his last three cuts.

Laird is without a top ten finish on the PGA Tour since he finished tied for the second at the Players Championship last May and has slipped out of the world’s top 100.