Miami ? Tiger Woods returned to No. 1 in the world Sunday.

Phil Mickelson made him earn it.

In a titanic battle on the Blue Monster before a sellout crowd, Woods made a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th, then held his breath as the resilient Mickelson nearly chipped in for birdie on the final hole. After four hours of dramatic shifts in momentum and thunderous cheers, Woods ended a spectacular duel with a six-foot par putt.

That gave him a 6-under 66 for a one-shot victory in the Ford Championship at Doral, putting Woods back at No. 1 in the world ranking for the first time since September.

“What a day,” Woods said in utter relief. “If you’re not nervous on a day like this, you’re not alive.”

Mickelson was alive and kicking.

After Woods carried a 3-wood some 290 yards to set up an eagle on the par-5 12th and take the lead for the first time, Lefty answered with back-to-back birdies. Needing a birdie to force a playoff, and possibly win on the 18th, his 30-foot chip was good until the final inch, when it tailed to the right and caught the lip.

“I’m a little ticked at myself for not getting it done,” Mickelson said after his 69. “I knew I was playing well enough to win.”

Vijay Singh, who had been No. 1 the last 26 weeks after beating Woods in a Labor Day duel outside Boston, closed with a 66 to finish third, five shots behind, along with Zach Johnson (67).