Golf: No 1spot in sight for Els

Ernie Els could replace Tiger Woods as world No 1 by winning the final major of the year, but the big South African is determined not to be sidetracked at Whistling Straits.

"My real goal this week is to play as well as I can," three-times major winner Els said yesterday.

"If I can do that, take care of this week, then we'll see what happens after that.

"I was world No 1 in 1997 for a week, I think, and in 1998 for a little bit longer.

"So I've been there and it's a great feeling. But what's been happening the last four or five years, it would be really great to be up there again."

If world No 2 Els seals victory at Whistling Straits on Monday, he would take over at the top of the global pecking order as long as Woods finishes no better than in a four-way tie for second.

Woods, who has equalled Greg Norman's record total of 331 weeks as world No 1, would also lose top spot if he finished lower than joint 16th and Els was second.

However, these scenarios are mere distractions for Els, who is far more concerned about maintaining his impressive challenge at this year's majors.

The smooth-swinging South African finished second behind Phil Mickelson at the US Masters, tied for ninth at the US Open and was edged out by American Todd Hamilton in a playoff for last month's British Open at Royal Troon.