Tiger Woods of the U.S. lets go of his club after hitting a tee shot on the eighth hole during the first round of the BMW Championship golf tournament in Lemont, Illinois September 9, 2010. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

American superstar Tiger Woods believes that he will have every chance to reclaim his number one spot on the world rankings once the WGC-HSBC Champions gets underway at the Sheshan International Golf Club on Thursday.

Woods had been at the top for a record 281 consecutive weeks since July 1997 but his dominance finally ended last weekend when he was replaced atop the world rankings by England's Lee Westwood.

While acknowledging the strong competition he will face this week, the American is not too concerned about his current position on the rankings and knows that a return to the top will be quick if he plays true to form.

"It's a hell of a field out there this week and it's going to be a lot of fun to go out there and win the event. This is the biggest event in Asia and has a World Golf Championship title to it so it's going to be exciting," said Woods.

"I come to every event with the same intention and that is to win golf tournaments. Whether I'm ranked number one or not, that has not changed and it'll never will. That's why I come to golf events and get the W (win)," added Woods

Woods has only briefly ceded the number one spot in 2004 and 2005 to Asian Tour honorary member Vijay Singh and South African Ernie Els respectively and in April 1999 to fellow American David Duval.

But with Westwood, defending champion Phil Mickelson and PGA Championship winner Martin Kaymer all featuring in the Shanghai showpiece, it could be an epic battle to decide who tops the world rankings by the end of the week.

This match-up at the WGC-HSBC Champions marks the first time since 1997 that four players have the chance to take over the top spot at an event.