STERNE CHASING HAT-TRICK

Richard Sterne is hoping to build on his superb ending to 2008 with another strong performance when the Joburg Open tees off on Thursday.

The South African, who is the defending champion at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, could equal a 22-year-old European Tour record at the co-sanctioned Sunshine Tour event by winning a third consecutive title - he claimed victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship and SA Open at the back end of last year.

Those two victories mean he could now become the first player since Seve Ballesteros in 1986 to claim three European Tour wins in succession, but he insists that it is not something that has crossed his mind.

"I haven't really thought much about it, although some people have talked to me about it," Sterne said. "I think the important thing for people to know is that it's not that easy to go out there and win a tournament.

"It's not the kind of thing you just decide to do one day. Come Sunday, I just hope I've got a chance, that's all."

Sterne's dream December propelled him into 43rd position in the world rankings, making him the highest ranked player and clear favourite in this week's 206-player field.

His biggest challenge is likely to come from fellow countrymen Retief Goosen, a two-time US Open winner, Charl Schwartzel and Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke.

The Johannesburg golfer has attributed his recent success to "enjoying" his golf more, but is nonetheless aware that he will have to work hard to live up to expectations.

He continued: "Obviously I'm pretty happy with my game at the moment, although there is room for improvement. All the aspects of my game can do with tightening up - there's always something.

"I'm over the euphoria (of last year) now. It was nice to have done what I did, but it's a new year now and we all have to go out and do it all again."

As for the pressure heading into the competition, Sterne added: "There is probably a little extra pressure, but to be honest, I don't really feel it.

"There is no difference between this tournament and any other one I go out to play in."

Another player bidding to build on his flying finish to 2008 is Chris Wood.

The Englishman, who is playing his first full season since turning pro, finished tied for 16th and sixth in the same two events that Sterne won and is confident a slight improvement in his game could see him improve even further in 2009.

He said: "I've started out pretty well. I've felt like I've just played my normal game really and there's so much more work I can do with my swing and my putting especially.

"I think I'm top of greens in regulation at the moment and if I can keep hitting the ball the way I am and get the putter going a bit, I'm going to start competing more. So that's what I'm looking to work on."


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SCOTT OUT TO SHINE IN 2009

Adam Scott admits he learnt a lot from a difficult 2008 and is now looking to make 2009 his most successful year yet.

Despite six wins on both the PGA and European Tours - including victory at the 2004 Players Championship, regarded as the unofficial fifth major - the gifted Australian is still viewed by observers as something of an underachiever.

The lazy swing and laid-back attitude are often interpreted as signs of a lack of intensity and hunger in a player many tipped to challenge Tiger Woods' hegemony of the game.

But Scott insists that is not the case and, following an injury and illness-plagued 2008, is determined to make his mark in 2009's biggest tournaments.

While his recent problems may have seen him slip from a career-high of third to 15th in the world, the Adelaide-born star feels he is now ready to rediscover his best form.

"It (2008) was a good year for me to look back on and learn a lot out of it," Scott explained on the eve of this week's Mercedes-Benz Championship in Hawaii.

"It was the first time in my career that I had really struggled, and it wasn't even really struggling on the course.

"It was more just a bit of a struggle with everything else going on, frustrating injury, illness, some personal stuff, and probably the first time there was a bump in the road for me. Before that, my career had just cruised along nicely.

"I have high expectations for myself and I think I've done well, but I could have achieved more. But it's all part of the process.

"Winning the Players Championship was great but it feels like a lifetime ago now, and it's gone quick.

"You know, that's what I want to feel again. I want to feel that big win. A lot of hard work went into that, and that's what I want to get back in to doing."

Finally clear of the recurring tonsillitis that dogged him over the last 12 months, Scott is still battling to regain full fitness following a freak knee injury, sustained whilst surfing, that ruled him out of December's Australian Open.

However, although unsure exactly how the problem will respond, he remains confident he is in good enough shape to compete in Maui where winners from the 2008 PGA Tour season are brought together for the traditional curtain-raiser.

"I'm not really sure how I'm playing," added Scott, who qualifies for this week's event courtesy of his victory at the Byron Nelson Championship last April.

"It (the knee) feels pretty good, although I haven't played for a long time. The knee is probably about 90 percent. It's pretty good and obviously good enough to be here."


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OLAZABAL FOLLOWS IN SEVE FOOTSTEPS

Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal will forever be linked for their peerless matchplay partnership - now the latter is aiming to win The Royal Trophy this week on behalf of his absent friend.

The Spanish duo formed the most formidable pairing in Ryder Cup history with 11 wins and two halves from 15 matches.

Olazabal is now hoping to emulate Ballesteros' captaincy record as he makes his first foray into leadership in Bangkok.

"Seve has shown through the years how good he was as a player on the golf course and as a captain - I'm trying to follow his steps," said the 42-year-old.

Ballesteros was the visionary behind The Royal Trophy - an annual matchplay contest between Europe and Asia - and was the victorious captain in the first two events, in 2006 and 2007.

However, the 51-year-old, who also led Europe to Ryder Cup glory in 1997, will not be attending the third edition of the event - the tournament was cancelled in 2008 after a death in the Thai Royal family - after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in October.

Following a series of operations, Ballesteros is recovering at home in Bilbao, northern Spain, so Olazabal has stepped in as European captain for the Ryder Cup-style event which begins with Friday's foursomes at Amata Spring Country Club.

Olazabal is confident of succeeding Ballesteros as the winning captain and expects his team of Nick Dougherty, Johan Edfors, Niclas Fasth, Soren Hansen, Pablo Larrazabal, Paul Lawrie, Paul McGinley and Oliver Wilson to defeat Naomichi 'Joe' Ozaki's Asian side.

"It's not going to be easy, but with these eight men I'm quite positive we will win this week," he added.

His friend Ballesteros has leant his support and will be observing the competition from afar.

The five-time major winner reiterated his determination to make a full recovery in a letter read by his nephew at the opening ceremony.

"Even though I'm not there today, somehow my heart and my thoughts are there with you," read Ivan Ballesteros, who is a promoter of the event.

"I'm at home recovering and working hard every day. I will keep fighting and doing all in my heart and in my head to win my most difficult match.

"I hope I see you again next year, hopefully defending the title once again as captain of the European side."

Olazabal, who was visibly moved as the letter was being read, revealed he has been in regular contact with Ballesteros and that his compatriot's indomitable spirit remains.

"His only instructions were to win," added Olazabal.

"I've seen Seve a few times in the last few weeks. He's actually doing very well considering what he has gone through.

"His spirits are very high, he's really working hard at the rehab, he's trying to recover completely and he's getting stronger so he can get chemotherapy treatment and so on.

"He's in great spirits, he's thinking of doing things and, as Ivan said, he's aiming to be healthy again and to battle this thing.

"So far the news has been very, very good."

Like Ballesteros, Olazabal, who is troubled by rheumatism, has vowed to return to full health.

Nick Faldo's vice-captain at the 2008 Ryder Cup in Valhalla, Olazabal is a possible candidate for the top job in future.

However, ahead of his first tournament as captain he stressed his priority is to make a playing return.

"I'm just concentrating on this week," he said.

"I'm not thinking about the Ryder Cup captaincy at the moment - I'm more concerned about my health.

"I'm not 100%. I still have a few things going on but hopefully everything will be clear shortly and I'll be able to play competitive golf again soon.

"The good thing about me being captain is that I'm old enough to have played with most of these guys.

"I know the players quite well and we've known each other for many years."

Europe won a one-sided contest 12 1/2-3 1/2 in 2007, but Ozaki believes his Asian side can win for the first time.

"I was disappointed with the result of the last one, but I want revenge and I want to beat Jose Maria's team very badly," said Ozaki.

Thai duo Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng are joined by Charlie Wi, SK Ho, Liang Wen-chong, Ryo Ishikawa, Hideto Tanihara and Toru Taniguchi in the Asian team.


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Seve Ballesteros' competitive spirit is continuing throughout his recovery and he has urged his good friend Jose Maria Olazabal to lead Europe to glory in the Royal Trophy this week.

The 51-year-old Spaniard is recovering at home in Bilbao, northern Spain, following four operations on a brain tumour which was diagnosed after he collapsed in Madrid in October.

In a letter read by his nephew, Ivan Ballesteros, at the opening ceremony of the Royal Trophy in Bangkok, the former European Ryder Cup captain and five-time major winner reiterated his determination to make a full recovery.

"Even though I'm not there today, somehow my heart and my thoughts are there with you," the letter read.

"I'm at home recovering and working hard every day. I will keep fighting and doing all in my heart and in my head to win my most difficult match.

"I hope I see you again next year, hopefully defending the title once again as captain of the European side."

Olazabal, who was visibly moved as the letter was being read, has taken the role of European captain for the third edition of the matchplay contest with Asia.

The 42-year-old revealed he has been in regular contact with Ballesteros, who captained the European team in each of the previous two matches, and that his compatriot's indomitable spirit remains.

"His only instructions were to win," said Olazabal.

"I've seen Seve a few times in the last few weeks. He's actually doing very well considering what he has gone through.

"His spirits are very high, he's really working hard at the rehab, he's trying to recover completely and he's getting stronger so he can get chemotherapy treatment and so on.

"He's in great spirits, he's thinking of doing things, and, as Ivan said, he's aiming to be healthy again and to battle this thing.

"So far the news has been very, very good."

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WATCH WOOD AND WILLETT GO

Only eight years ago Lee Westwood was all on his own - the only English golfer in the world's top 100.

How things have changed. Now there are seven in the top 50 - and almost certainly more on the way.

Last month's European Tour qualifying school saw Yorkshireman Danny Willett and Bristol's Chris Wood, both now 21, underline their huge potential by finishing fourth and joint fifth respectively.

The pair were still amateurs this time last year.

The 6ft 5in Wood switched straight after his phenomenal fifth place in The Open at Royal Birkdale - the best performance by any amateur in any major since Justin Rose was fourth on the same course a decade ago - while Willett turned professional in May.

Both were hoping to emulate Northern Ireland teenager Rory McIlroy by playing well enough immediately to avoid the school. They ended up having to go through the ordeal, but the way they handled it was mighty impressive.

They each had to go through not just the six-round final stage but also two earlier 72-hole qualifiers. That is 14 rounds in all, any one of which could have ruined their dreams of joining the money-spinning 'Race To Dubai', yet they finished 42 under par and 36 under.

Willett was a team-mate of McIlroy at the 2007 Walker Cup and had gone on from that to be the number one amateur in the world when he made his presence felt the moment he first showed up at a Tour event.

His first hole at the Andalucia Open was an eagle; he had another six holes later, and only a last-hole bogey stopped him sharing the opening-day lead with Ryder Cup star Westwood.

A 19th-place finish there was followed by a 10th place at the Spanish Open - including third-round 64 - and with that he decided the time was right to go pro.

''So far so good,'' is the verdict of the former English amateur champion seven months on.

''Yes, it would have been great not to have to go through qualifying. But I always knew that was going to be difficult - and by getting under par quickly at the school, I was never in danger of missing the cut.''

Once he had posted a third-round 63, he could focus not simply on earning a card but finishing as high as possible - important because it guarantees more starts in the early part of the season.

Willett already has the evidence that he does not need to take his game to a whole new level to find more success.

From the tournaments he played in the 2007 season, his stroke average of 70.9 was the same as Open and USPGA champion Padraig Harrington and better than half the Ryder Cup team - while he actually led the 'putts per greens in regulation' category.

''People think it's a big leap (from the amateur to professional game), but if you are shooting good numbers it does not matter who you are playing against.''

With Sam Torrance's former caddie Malcolm Mason using his experience to guide Willett through the Tour school process, their partnership is certainly one to watch in the coming months.

With all the riches on offer it is a heaven-sent opportunity - appropriately-enough for the son of the Reverend Steve Willett, vicar of Christ Church in Hackenthorpe.

''I've got a team of people around me that love me a lot,'' he added.

The biggest disappointment he suffered during the year was double-bogeying the last hole at Hillside to miss out on The Open.

Wood came through that qualifier instead - and from being little-known at the time, he became one of the central characters of the championship. Paired with eventual runner-up Ian Poulter in the final round, he still had a chance to win himself with nine holes to play.

''At the time The Open was as good as golf can get, but knowing that I have a full year on tour ahead of me is just as good,'' he said, after securing his card.

''I have worked really hard for it, so feel I deserve everything that I have achieved. This caps a pretty amazing year for me.''

The first task for both, of course, is to ensure they do not have to return to the Tour school at the end of 2009.

''It's just a horrible week, with all the pressure and everything that comes with it,'' added Wood.

''I never want to come back here again.''


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ONE MORE EVENT FOR ANNIKA

Annika Sorenstam has confirmed that she will take a temporary step back from retirement and play in an 'Annika bonanza' in February.

"It's called the Annika Celebration," said the Swede, who is generally regarded as the greatest female golfer on her generation.

"It's really an event that IMG (her management company) is putting together to help me raise some money for my foundation to help me get it off to a little more than a kick-start.

"But it's also their (IMG's) way of celebrating my career and what I've achieved.

"It's a three-day event. We'll be starting with a Pro-Am and then we have an exhibition match with Lorena Ochoa, Paula Creamer and I think Natalie Gulbis and myself.

"It will take place at Reunion in Orlando, just where my academy is. Again, it's something that IMG is putting together; all of my sponsors are involved. We are tieing it in with a Super Bowl party, so it should be little bit more on the lighter side than it has been in the past."

Did playing in events mean Sorenstam was keeping the door open for a full time return to tournament golf?

"Well, that's the beauty of it, I suppose. I have the option to do that, and maybe that's why I feel even more that I won't. Never say never, but on the other hand, I feel great right now. This is what I've been waiting for (stepping away from the professional circuit)."

She added: "Walking down the 18th (in her final event in Dubai), I felt so much at peace. I know the time is right.

"I have had 15 wonderful years. I have achieved more than I ever thought I could.

"I cannot ask for anymore. I have given it all from start to finish. I just don't have it any more in me, and there's no need for me to be out here and continue to reminisce, continue to push something that's not there.

"On the contrary, I would like to leave it where I feel really good about it. I've always said that to my friends and my family; that is last thing I want to do is be out playing and have a fan, say, hey, I remember when she could play. That's just not me.

"I give it all, and if I can't give it all, I'll do something else and that time is here."


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