Els brings new iron to duel with Woods

If a long, cool, objective look is taken at the relative merits of Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, there is only one conclusion: Ernie Els is the best golfer in the world.

Or at least he is currently. Woods may be the world No1 and Els No2 but those rankings are based on a two-year period and so reflect the American's past successes. They do not show how an enormous amount of hard work, physical and particularly mental, has moved Els's game up by several notches.

The two men have yet to play in the same tournament this season, something that will be remedied this week in the Accenture Match Play Championship here at La Costa - and on many major occasions throughout what promises to be an enthralling season.

The top 64 players in the world qualify to play in the Accenture, and Woods and Els are seeded to meet in the final. That is, as they say, a consummation devoutly to be desired, and for several reasons. It would, for a start, do the event a power of good after a series of finals with all the appeal of cold cooked carrots.

Last year it was Kevin Whatshisname versus Scott Who; Jeff Maggert won one year, beating (pause to look it up) Andrew Magee; and the final of 2001 is a quiz question. Some anorak might get Steve Stricker as the winner, but the runner-up? Well, it was Pierre Fulke, the Swede with the anagrammatic surname.

So Woods and Els would be a relief all round and it might serve to show how the South African has become a better golfer than the American. Els is now a longer, and straighter, driver of the ball. This year he is averaging 320 yards off the tee; Woods has to be satisfied with a mere 299.3. Moreover Woods is hitting the fairway barely 50% of the time, compared with Els's 69%, and that is emphasised in the most pertinent department of all, greens in regulation. Els is hitting an incredible 85% and is the best on tour, whereas Woods languishes in 60th place with 70%. In fact, quite remarkably, of the 10 sections of statistics kept by the US Tour, Els is top in seven, Woods in none.

However, though Woods has been outpointed so far this season, he would still be made favourite by most people to beat Els in this week's theoretical final. That is because historically he always has. There was the season of 2000 when Els was runner-up in three majors, twice to Woods, and there was the Masters last year when Els, among other world-class players, failed to put up any kind of challenge to Woods.

At Augusta, in the final round and on the short par-five 13th, Els, second to Woods but four behind, decided he needed an eagle and took out his driver. With his caddie Ricci Roberts screaming at him not to do it, he went ahead - and smashed his ball into the trees, took eight and finished fifth.

It was that shot, as much as anything, that made Els realise that intensive remedial action was needed. He had already been talking to the sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout, but now the two men met more frequently. "I was trying to push myself on the wrong shots at the wrong time," admits Els. "I was pushing the issue even when I shouldn't really have gone for the flag.

"That was largely because of 2000. Tiger was in total control that year. I played well, but he shot everyone down, especially me."

From April onwards last year Els and Vanstiphout worked on eliminating what the latter calls "Tigeritis". Vanstiphout says: "There is nothing to be done about Tiger, so Ernie has had to learn to ignore him. Of course he is always being bombarded by the press about Mr Woods but he is learning to deal with that."

Els willingly gives credit to Vanstiphout. It was a big step for him to admit he needed mental help but he now says: "The biggest stride I have made has been working with Jos. I never thought it would be such a big thing, but it has turned out to be a very significant change in the way I play the game."

In November last year, in the Two Million Dollar Challenge in Sun City, South Africa, Els played a series of perfect shots under the gun and walking down the 15th fairway, clear of the opposition, Roberts stopped his man and said: "No man will beat you now. Now everything in life is perfect."

Out of the Woods, then? The Vanstiphout policy means Els won't discuss his rival in detail. He just smiles that Big Easy smile and says: "It'll all come to a head sooner or later."

Head to head Ernie Els :: Tiger Woods

Age 33 :: 27

Height 6ft 3in :: 6ft 2in

Weight 15st :: 12st 8lb

Turned pro 1989 :: 1996

Career wins 43 :: 42

2003 earnings £1,539,469 :: £654,000

Wins this year 4 :: 1