Tiger Woods, who was ranked outside the world's top 50 early last month, can come close to regaining a place in the top 10 if he wins the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship this week.
This week's tournament is the first for Woods since he ended more than two years without a victory at the Chevron World Challenge last month. That was in a field of only 18, but there were still enough points on offer to take Woods from 52nd to 21st in the world rankings.
He has slipped back to 25th during a six-week break, but Colin Montgomerie said he can see Woods continuing his revival this season, predicting that he might even win two of this season's four majors.
"A Tiger victory at the Masters would be the best story for golf," Montgomerie said.
When asked who he thought would be No 1 at the end of the year, Montgomerie went for Woods or Rory McIlroy.
"He [Woods] hasn't played that much in the last two years and so can move back up more quickly because of how the rankings work," Montgomerie said.
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The field for this week's tournament will be the strongest ever assembled for an event in the Middle East, according to statisticians from the World Golf Rankings. Leading the field are the world No 1 Luke Donald, the former No 1s Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Woods, and the reigning major champions Charl Schwartzel, Darren Clarke and McIlroy.
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Europe's Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal became one of the beneficiaries of a decision to increase the field for this week's Abu Dhabi Golf Championship from 126 to 129 yesterday.
The Spanish former two-time Masters winner, 45, was listed as second reserve, but then received the news that he, German Alex Cejka and Swede Niclas Fasth were all in.
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Ahmed Marjan of Morocco, the top amateur in last year's Mena Golf Tour, will compete in next month's Omega Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club.
Marjan will join the UAE's Ahmed Al Musharrekh as the only amateurs in the US$2.5 million (Dh9.2m) European Tour event, from February 9 to 12.
"To play in such a tournament, which has a massive worldwide appeal, is beyond a dream for any emerging player of my age. I can't believe my luck," said Marjan, 18, the top-ranked amateur in Morocco. "Exposure to this event will certainly be a great learning curve and will help me understand my potential better."
* Agencies
