Ernie Els is out of this week's Players Championship in Florida, thus robbing the event of both the world number two and number three.
Els' withdrawal because of trouble with the wrist he hurt hitting a punchbag in the garage of his Wentworth home 11 days ago follows that of Phil Mickelson, who has chosen to stay with his wife and new baby son.
It makes Tiger Woods, winner of three of his first four tournaments this season, an even stronger favourite for what is regarded as golf's unofficial fifth Major.
Els, who captured four of his first five events, played in last week's Bay Hill Invitational and after following an opening 74 with a 65 was lying joint third.
That put him into the much-anticipated first meeting of the year with Woods, but with the wrist starting to be a problem again he closed with rounds of 72 and 77 and finished only joint 38th.
Woods, meanwhile, marched on to an incredible 11-shot victory - despite suffering food poisoning.
Els' priority, of course, is to be fit and healthy for the Masters in two weeks. He has never finished higher than eighth at the Players.
As he now starts the intensive treatment that he hopes will restore him to 100% in time, Woods has refused to back any moves to promote the Players Championship to the same level as the four Majors.
"It's one step below," said Woods as he looked ahead to the six-million dollar event starting on Thursday.
"I think it's probably the highest tournament in the world next to the Majors, but I don't think it ranks up there." Asked what the main difference was, the world number one answered straight back: "History."
Tim Finchem, commissioner of the US Tour whose headquarters are at the course, told his local paper this week that "there isn't anything stopping us" from designating the Players as another Major.
"The day may come when we do that. We haven't made that determination, but that's not to say we wouldn't, at some point, take that step.
"The Players Championship is now at the same age as the Masters was in 1964, when Arnold Palmer won for the fourth time in eight years. I think we would all agree that the Masters was considered a Major by that point."
Since winning the 1997 Masters, Woods has been closing in on Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 Majors. He is currently 10 behind, but that would become 12 if the Players was designated a Major.
To him this is the final tune-up for Augusta and he commented: "It's always good to leave here on a positive note, especially if you are not playing next week."
He is still trying to shake off the effects of his stomach trouble and played only nine holes of practice early this morning so he could rest up the remainder of the day.
The withdrawals of Els and Mickelson do not, however, bring in young Australian Aaron Baddeley and Swede Carl Pettersson.
PA