With a win this week at The Players Championship, Mickelson can take over the number one spot in the world provided Tiger finishes out of the top five.
Obviously, coming off a win at the Masters, and a runner-up finish at Quail Hollow, which he would have won had Rory Mcllroy not gone ballistic with a 62, he's playing extremely well. He also won the Players in 2007. All signs point to him having a strong week, especially with the number one ranking on the line.
As for Tiger, his full swing is in shambles and it will be very interesting to see what type of game he brings to the table this week. If ever there were a time for Woods to have such immense troubles with his game, it's obviously now.
Although he's the greatest to ever play, anyone that deals with the biggest sex scandal ever, mistresses coming out of the woodwork left and right, divorce, family problems, paparazzi, helicopters, airplanes stringing messages, hecklers, and every television show, article, or blog post grilling him, it has to be a little hard to focus.
We'll see what happens this week. Should be interesting.
Mickelson photo - AP / Gerry Broome