The countdown to next month’s Masters at Augusta starts in earnest tomorrow as the US Tour kicks off its ‘Florida Swing’ with nine of the world’s top 10 competing in the Ford Championship at Doral.

There will be no complaints if the event produces a re-run of last year. Phil Mickelson led after two and three rounds, but then came off second best in a last day head-to-head with Tiger Woods.

With closing rounds of 63 and 66 Woods, five behind at halfway, triumphed by one, and with it regained the world number one spot from third-placed Vijay Singh.

Sergio Garcia heads the European contingent after deciding to skip last week’s Accenture world match play championship in California.

The 26-year-old Spaniard was the only member of golf’s top 10 missing from La Costa, while this week it is Australian Adam Scott.

In what he calls "the start of my mini-season" Nick Faldo plays his first tournament in America since pulling out of the Masters with back trouble last April.

Europe’s next Ryder Cup captain, now 48 and an analyst for ABC television in the States, is in the last year of his 10-year US Tour exemption from winning the 1996 Masters and is switching from the commentary booth back to the course to prepare for his return to Augusta.

He may be down to 291st in the world rankings, but Faldo showed with an 11th place finish in the Open at St Andrews last July that he is still a fierce competitor.

Faldo becomes eligible for seniors golf in July next year and with ABC not continuing their coverage of the sport after this year he could well be seen playing more than is currently the case.

"I don’t want to get to 55 regretting I didn’t take the opportunity, so that’s the plan at the moment," he said.

One of his playing partners for the first two rounds is Stephen Ames, thrashed by a record nine and eight margin by Woods at La Costa.

And the other is Australian Craig Parry, whose decision not to compete in the match play when Thomas Bjorn pulled out put Ames in the firing line.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington Darren Clarke have stayed on in America for the event and David Howell, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Brian Davis and Greg Owen are also in action.

Harrington partners Singh, one of his victims in San Diego, and Davis Love, runner-up to Geoff Ogilvy at the same tournament.