Desert warm-up puts Els in Masters mood

Ernie Els could have played his way round the Florida swing on the US Tour without having to reach for the skies. But after winning at Doral he hopped on a plane and made the 15-hour journey to Dubai. Els said: "It was worth it, wasn't it? Good weather, a beautiful hotel and tax-free money."

Do not be deceived. Els won £166,660 on Sunday to go to the head of the European Order of Merit, but titles are what Els craves. "To win," he replied when asked his priorities. Els had a longer than usual dry spell in 2001, but has won four times in the last four months, in Africa, Australasia, America and Asia.

Victory at the Dubai Desert Classic gave him three wins in his last three strokeplay tournaments. At No 3 in the world rankings, Els is closing rapidly on Phil Mickelson and, though Tiger Woods might be out of sight this year, the South African would like to challenge for the top spot next year.

"The flight home will give me time to think about what is coming up," he said. "I'm looking forward to seeing Samantha." His two-year-old daughter will have no trouble keeping her father's feet on the ground for the next few weeks. This week Els can stay at home in Orlando for the Bay Hill Invitational. Next week it is only a three-hour drive to Sawgrass for The Players Championship.

Els will then have two weeks off before the first major of the year, the Masters. He has not won a major since his second US Open win in 1997.

"The real build-up starts now," he said. "I am in form and that's what I wanted when I play. I want to feel I want to play and have a chance to win. That's how it is working out this year. I shall be going to Augusta with a good chance, but so will a few others."

It will be a remodelled Augusta National that awaits the players this year and Els has already seen the changes. "It's going to be a driver's golf course. It is a long hitter's dream. You have got to hit your driver a long way to attack the par-fives and some of the par-fours, like the first and 18th, you will be hitting in mid-irons rather than wedges. You are going to have to keep it in play."

Another man eagerly awaiting Augusta is Michael Hoey. The 23-year-old from Shandon Park in Belfast is the Amateur champion, which guaranteed him a place in the Masters, after which he will turn professional. A member of the Walker Cup-winning side against the Americans at Sea Island last August, Hoey finished 12th in Dubai despite going into the event after six weeks at home when he was unable to play.

Hoey was a shot behind Darren Clarke and a shot ahead of Padraig Harrington. It was a place behind his best result in the Scottish Open last July when his final-round 64 was the best score of the day by two strokes.

"Considering I had no preparation, it's been a great week," Hoey said. "I made 20 birdies so that shows I am hitting it long enough and holing the putts. I just need to get more experience. I have been working with a sports scientist on an exercise routine which is helping me with my concentration over the round."

Hoey will play in the second event of the Middle Eastern swing in Qatar this week while his warm-up for Augusta includes a match against the US Amateur champion, Bubba Dickerson, at the Golf Club of Georgia in Atlanta.

John Daly will tee up alongside the defending champion, Tiger Woods, in the Deutsche Bank SAP Open at St Leon-Rot, near Heidelberg, on 17-20 May. Daly won the BMW International in Munich last year and will be playing in the Benson and Hedges International at The Belfry the previous week. Also playing will be 17-year-old Ty Tryon. The youngster won his US Tour card last December but has only been allowed to play on invitations until he turns 18 in June.

Matt Kuchar's first US Tour victory in his 17th professional event has brought the 23-year-old an unexpected bonus – a place in the Masters next month. Kuchar, who hit a closing 66 to win the Honda Classic in Florida, moved up from 149th to 50th in the world rankings – on the day Augusta extended an invitation to the world's top 50. Daly and the South African Rory Sabbatini were the others to take advantage, the other 47 having already earned exemptions.