US Tour Wachovia ChampionshipTiger Woods makes his first appearance since winning last month's US Masters at this week's Wachovia Championship in what should be a feast for fans at Charlotte, North Carolina.

Also back in action after a three-week break is 2004 Masters champion Phil Mickelson, while the workaholic Vijay Singh, world-ranked two, is ready for his third tournament in a row.

Woods, who clinched his ninth major at Augusta National with a play-off victory over fellow American Chris DiMarco, is the headline act, though, at Quail Hollow Club where nine of the world's top 11 players will be competing this week.

They include number eight ranked Padraig Harrington, who is due off the 10th tee in the company of Adam Scott and Nick Price just after 1pm Irish time.

The only absentees are South Africa's world number three Ernie Els and compatriot Retief Goosen, the US Open champion and the world number five.

Els is enjoying a week with his family at his Wentworth home after romping to a 13-shot victory in the Asian Open in China on Monday.

If the pattern of the PGA Tour season continues this week, then a dramatic Wachovia finish is assured. In the last 11 strokeplay events, the winner has not been determined before the 72nd hole, while three of the last four have been decided in a play-off.

Woods, who tied for third at last year's Wachovia Championship, arrives in Charlotte in upbeat mood after claiming his fourth green jacket at Augusta National and, with it, the world number one ranking.

Mickelson arrives at Quail Hollow looking to replicate the blistering early season form that earned him three wins, including back-to-back titles in February at the Phoenix Open and the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Should the chance arise, he will also be determined to reverse the result of his duel with Woods down the stretch at the Doral Open in March. It was the most exciting PGA Tour finish of the season with Woods, who closed with a six-under-par 66, prevailing by a shot.

Singh has won twice this season, at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January and last month in Houston, but has let two other titles slip through his fingers with uncharacteristic lapses.

He lost in a play-off to Harrington at the Honda Classic in March and found the water on the final hole at the Bay Hill Invitational the following week to hand victory to Kenny Perry.

An erratic putter could prove disastrous on Quail Hollow's tricky greens, but the latest addition to the World Golf Hall of Fame will be encouraged by his record there, finishing runner-up in 2003 and tied for 10th last year.

Perhaps no other golfer, though, will be under more scrutiny this week than DiMarco.

Leading by two strokes with nine holes to play at the Classic on Sunday, he appeared to be on the brink of his first PGA Tour title since the 2002 Phoenix Open.

But the Ryder Cup player produced a faltering finish and failed by a shot to join compatriots Tim Petrovic and James Driscoll in a play-off won by Petrovic at the first extra hole.