World Golf Championship, Day One, Live on Sky Sports 4 at 6.00pm

Adam Scott could replace Tiger Woods as the world No 1 if he wins the World Golf Championship which starts today from Doral in Miami.

In order to knock Woods off his perch, the Masters champion needs to top the charts at the remodelled Blue Monster course and hope defending champion Woods finishes outside the top seven.

However, the US star may not even take to the tee this evening as his participation in the tournament is in doubt due to a back injury.

Woods withdrew from the final round at PGA National on Sunday after complaining of back spasms and admitted he was unsure whether he would be ready to play at Doral.

Woods' agent Mark Steinberg has said that his client is "receiving treatment" and would be evaluated each day but that his status is "up in the air."

It is understood Woods won't make a decision on his participation until the last minute.

Scott, on the other hand, is all set to take to the course in Miami and if winning would become only the second Australian - after Greg Norman - to claim the top spot since the rankings were introduced in 1986.

The 33-year-old put in a rather rusty round of golf with a 12th-place finish last week but before that had achieved a top-10 finish in all six of his last strokeplay tournaments and bagged third place behind Woods at Doral last year.

Meanwhile, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy also heads into the tournament with hopes of landing the pot after looking like the player of old for three rounds at PGA National last week.

The 24-year-old began the final day two shots clear of Russell Henley but shot a four-over-par final round in Florida as his US rival won a four-man play-off.

The double major winner has reeled off three straight top 10s in this tournament on a course he relishes, finishing 8th last year, 3rd in 2012 and 10th in 2011.