Charles Howell III won't have to worry about Tiger Woods this week as he tries to defend his Northern Trust Open title.

But even though Woods bowed out of the event (which used to be called the Nissan Open) for the second straight year, a spectacular group of players are in the field as play begins Thursday at Riviera Country Club.

Seventeen of the top 20 players in the World Golf rankings are playing this week, highlighted by No. 2-ranked Phil Mickelson, who lost to Howell in a three-hole playoff in 2007.

Like last year, the San Diego native plans to commute daily between Riviera and his home in Northern San Diego County by using a private jet.

Other notables in the field this week include No. 3-ranked player Steve Stricker, Adam Scott, Jim Furyk, 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson, 2007 British Open champion Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, Rory Sabbatini, K.J. Choi, Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia.

In all, 32 of the top 48 in the World Golf rankings are in the field.

Howell, who is a friend of Woods and practices with him all the time, was hoping the world's No. 1-ranked player would show up this week.

Winning at Riviera is something Woods has never accomplished in his career, a fact Howell said he reminds him about all the time.

"There isn't much anybody has on Tiger, and by virtue of the fact that I see him all the time, I do remind him of that quite often," Howell said.

"But he mentions all of his green jackets quite quickly and that has a very quieting effect on me."

Howell called last year's win a huge confidence booster and extremely gratifying because he considers Riviera to be one of the finest golf courses in the world.

Even before winning this event last season, Howell had a strong track record at Riviera.

"You can tell when a golf course fits your eye the first time you play it. And from the first time I went around Riviera, I just loved the shape of it," Howell said.

"I loved how every hole was defined by trees. But yet, you never feel really claustrophobic on it. It's not overly tight, but the trees do shape the golf course. I've always liked that about it."

Among the other notables in the field this week are past champions Fred Couples, Mike Weir, and Oxnard native Corey Pavin, who comes in fresh off his third-place finish at last week's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Pavin, who won back-to-back titles at Riviera in 1994 and 1995, said the legendary course still ranks among his favorites.

"Even if I'm playing crappy, I always feel good going into Riviera," Pavin said following Sunday's final round at Pebble Beach. "So it's nice, but on the other hand I want to be careful. I don't want to have too high expectations.

"I will forever remember the '95 PGA, where I went back there and I had won the L.A. Open or Nissan Open I should say, or should I say Northern Trust Open. I felt pretty good going in there and missed the cut. I think I've been around long enough to kind of hold the reins back a little bit and have expectations, but keep good track of them."

Pavin has spent the last few years working with Greg LaBelle, one of pros who works alongside Butch Harmon, and he said the changes they have made in his swing are slowly but surely coming around.

Pavin indicated the changes involve trying to take the club more inside and a lot squarer. He said he tends to open it a little bit, so he's now trying to keep the clubface as closed as he possibly can.

On his downswing he is trying to actually drop it into a flatter plane — a different plane, a lower plane, but also keep the club a little straighter up with a very square clubface.

"In essence I'm very square all through my swing, and then I just try to move my body through it, which is something I haven't done through my career," Pavin said. "I've been a very handsy player, and it's taken some time to get used to.

"Like I said, it's felt a lot more comfortable (lately). I've worked with Greg a few times this year, and it's just starting to feel more comfortable."

His strong play last week helps fuel Pavin's desire to keep working toward reaching his goals.

"The main goal for me is I just want to get more comfortable on the golf course with my swing, hit it better, and that will translate to a whole lot of things," Pavin said.

"Obviously I want to win. I mean, I'm not out here to see how much money I can make. I want to be winning tournaments and in contention. That's always been what I've wanted to do."

The Northern Trust Open will have a record purse of $6.2 million, with the winner earning $1,116,000.

Tickets for the event at the gate are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $20 for juniors. Fans can save $5 when purchasing in advance at www.northerntrustopen.com, Roger Dunn Golf Shops or by calling 1-800-752-6736.