Sergio Garcia could be less than two months from knocking Tiger Woods off top spot in the world rankings, but starting his 2009 campaign in Abu Dhabi the Spanish star made no secret of what remains his number one target.
"Of course I have a chance (to relegate the injured Woods to second place), but it's not something that's do-or-die for me," said Garcia, who celebrated his 29th birthday last Friday.
"Winning a major has always been a goal for me, so I guess that's probably the only place where I'll set any kind of a goal.
"Other than that, I'll try to play as well as I can at any tournament. If I became the number one nothing is going to change for me."
Up to second by virtue of winning the HSBC Champions title in Shanghai in November - and leader of the European Tour's new "Race To Dubai" money list - Garcia has seen a host of chances to break his major duck come and go.
Back in 1999, just four months into his professional career, he was runner-up to Woods at the USPGA, an event remembered more than anything for his eyes-closed recovery from the base of a tree on the 16th hole at Medinah.
Eleven more top-10 finishes were to come before he stood on the final tee at Carnoustie with a one-stroke lead over Padraig Harrington two years ago.
He bogeyed the hole, though, and lost the play-off, then last August was denied again by his Ryder Cup team-mate at the USPGA Championship.
Harrington, winner of golf's last two majors and three of the last six, is also in Dubai and while he can also catch Woods on the rankings before the American returns to action, getting his game right for The Masters in April is the primary target.
"I'm trying to focus on the process and I do believe I'll be a better player this year," said the Irishman.
"That doesn't necessarily mean that my results will be better, but over time it will even itself out, so I'm comfortable that things are going on the right track.
Current Masters champion Trevor Immelman is another in the Middle East, although jetlag is more of an issue for the South African as he was in Hawaii last week.
"The key for me is that I now know that when I play my best golf, it's good enough to win the biggest tournaments," he said. "That is definitely a confidence boost for me."
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