Five of the world's top 10 golfers are playing the new-look Wentworth this week - and every one of them could soon be challenging Tiger Woods for the No.1 spot.
That is the view of sixth-placed Ian Poulter, who has overcome what he admits was 'a bit of a scare' with his neck to join the fight at the European Tour's showpiece BMW PGA Championship.
"It's closer now than it ever was because, obviously, of the points that Tiger has dropped over the last 12 months," said the World Match Play champion.
Lee Westwood moved to third in the rankings for the first time this week, but when asked if he could envisage his Ryder Cup team-mate overtaking Woods this year Poulter said: "I can see anybody in the top 10."
"If they play great for a spell or three or four months, have a couple of wins and a couple of big finishes, then they can certainly get to the points that Tiger is at now, for sure."
Previously Woods could be relied on to keep the pack at bay by reeling off regular wins, but now, with his private life messed up by his sex scandal and his coach Hank Haney quitting, things are very different.
Never before had Woods failed to finish two successive events until he missed the cut by eight at Quail Hollow, then walked off with a neck strain when he was outside the top 50 seven holes into his final round at the Players Championship.
Poulter came in for real ribbing two years ago when he dared to suggest he could reach No.2 - he was not in the top 20 at the time - but victory on Sunday and it will be within touching distance.
As well as him and Westwood this week's field also boasts Ernie Els, the co-designer of the controversial new West Course lay-out, defending champion Paul Casey and Rory McIlroy.
They stand seventh, eighth and ninth in the rankings, while Martin Kaymer and Padraig Harrington at 11th and 13th add to the star quality on show.
The biggest change at Wentworth is at the par five 18th, which now has a wide stream short of the newly-raised putting surface.
There are varying views on whether that will make the finish more or less exciting - it depends on who has to try to get on in two - but what made Poulter and Harrington return to the event is the relaying of the greens.
They have both stayed away the last two years and Poulter stated: "They were bumpy. You could hit it a putt from three feet and it would quite comfortably miss, which is frustrating."
"I wouldn't deal with it very well a few years ago. I'd rather have a week off at home."
Westwood has stayed loyal to the championship, not missing one since his 1994 debut, but is hoping for an upturn in fortunes. After finishing runner-up to Colin Montgomerie in 2000 he has made the cut only twice.
"Any changes were going to be good changes for me," said the man who has finished third, third and second in the last three majors and came fourth in the recent Players Championship after leading with a round to go.
"I just have always struggled on the greens here for some reason," he commented. "I can never really figure it out,