Woods targets $10 million barrier

Tiger Woods starts the Valderrama World Golf Championship event on Thursday hoping to become the first man in the sport to win $10 million in a season.

Victory in Spain would earn him a one-million-dollar purse to take his season's winnings through the $10 million barrier. No one, apart from Woods himself, has ever earnt half as much in a season.

"It was one of my goals at the beginning of the year," he said.

"Most of the tournaments I've played in this year, I've had a chance to win. That's something I am very proud of."

Woods, who has won nine tournaments from 21 in 2000 including three out of the year's four majors, was given a head start here when a dozen leading American players pulled out at the last minute.

World number three Phil Mickelson, who beat Woods at Atlanta last week, and David Duval, ranked fourth, were among the absentees who opted for a holiday break rather play in an event designed to attract the world's best.

Ernie Els, however, the world number two, and Vijay Singh, the only man to beat the 24-year-old Woods in a major this season, will take part, as will the cream of the European Tour.

Lee Westwood will be seeking a slice of history of his own at Valderrama, the venue of the 1997 Ryder Cup.

Victory would give him a record seven wins in a European Tour season, as well as earning him the order of merit title.

Westwood, however, said: "The order of merit is not something that concerns me that much. Winning the tournament is what matters, because it would mean beating Tiger and giving me that record."

Westwood is just behind Darren Clarke in the money list after the Northern Irishman came second, one place ahead of his English rival, in last week's Volvo Masters.

Beaten Woods

Both men can boast a win over Woods this season, Clarke beating him in the World Golf Championship Match Play in February while Westwood beat him in the German Open in May.

That is more than can be said for Colin Montgomerie, Europe's number one for the past seven years.

Victory at Valderrama, the 37-year-old Scot said, would salvage his disappointing season which has seen him slump to sixth in the order of merit.

He was hardly upbeat, however.

"You've got to beat Tiger Woods, don't you? That is almost impossible," he said.

Clarke, however, refused to write Montgomerie out of the equation -- or to hand Woods the title before a shot has been played.

"Monty says a lot of things," he said, before recalling Mickelson's weekend win.

"Tiger's record speaks for itself, but he was expected to win last week and he didn't quite manage it," said Clarke.

The 55-man field at Valderrama will include New Zealander Michael Campbell, the world number 16 and another man to have beaten the world number one this season, Justin Leonard, the 1997 British Open champion, Jesper Parnevik and Nick Price.

There will also be a strong home contingent in the shape of 1999 Augusta Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, Sergio Garcia, the runner-up behind Woods in the 1999 U.S. PGA, and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Jimenez lost this event last year in a play-off with Woods.

Since then, several changes have been made to the undulating 6,974-yard course, known as the Augusta of Europe.

Olazabal, however, feared the worst

"If anything, the changes will help Tiger," he said. "They will favour his long game, even though the course is very narrow."