That challenge, and possibly the start of a long-awaited rivalry for supremacy in the game, had been expected to come from world number two Ernie Els, who launched the 2003 season in explosive style with four titles in just seven starts.

But three weeks ago, the big-hitting South African injured his right wrist after working out on a punching bag at his Wentworth home outside London.

He was forced to pull out of last week's Players Championship at Sawgrass and has since been recovering on holiday with his family in the Bahamas.

Although Els is confident that he will be fit for next week's US Masters, the first of the year's four majors, there will be some doubt over whether he can quickly regain the electric form he displayed during the first two months of the year.

Armed with a new set of Titleist clubs, the British Open champion produced some truly awesome golf. He became the first player since Steve Jones in 1989 to win the first two events of the US PGA Tour season, sweeping to victory at the Mercedes Championship and the Hawaii Open.

The 33-year-old then switched to the European Tour in late January and, after being foiled on the final green in his bid to win the Singapore Masters, clinched the Heineken Classic and the Johnnie Walker Classic in Australia.

Woods, watching from the sidelines after having undergone knee surgery in December, was hugely impressed with what he saw of Els's play on television. "He is definitely a better player than he was," said the world number one. "He's longer and I think his swing is much more on a plane."

Els himself admits he has added at least 30 yards to his driving this year, but the most significant improvement in his game has been his mental approach.

In 2000, Woods won three consecutive majors -- and nine titles in all -- while a shell-shocked Els, despite finishing second or tied for second in the first three majors of the year, lost much of his confidence playing at the highest level.

That, though, is no longer the case. The two-times US Open winner began working with Belgian sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout in early 2002, with the main focus on ridding Els of the 'Tiger Woods factor'.

"Ernie had a big problem with Tiger and we worked on ignoring the fact that Tiger existed," said Vanstiphout. "I told him to concentrate on his own incredible game and not to bother about Woods.

"Now anything is possible and he can beat anyone. Yes, even Tiger."

David Leadbetter, who started coaching Els in 1990, believes the South African is quite capable of taking on Woods in the pressure-cooker situation of a major tournament over the final nine holes.

"He [Els] has moved his game to a totally different level to such an extent that anything is achievable this year," Leadbetter told the April issue of Golf World magazine.

"Winning last year's British Open did a huge amount for Ernie's inner confidence. That's where he shook the Tiger bogey and that was the springboard for what he is achieving now.

"I think Ernie is now ready to dominate. It will be a fascinating week at Augusta," added Leadbetter, who has also helped the careers of Nick Price and Nick Faldo, among others.

Two doubts, though, still linger.

Although Els was clearly affected by his injured wrist when he and Woods met for the first time this year in a strokeplay event, at last month's Bay Hill Invitational, the South African faded with a last-day 77 to tie for 38th at even-par 288.

He had been expected to duel with Woods for the title, but ended up 19 shots behind the world number one, who won the tournament for the fourth straight year.

Despite Els's confidence about being ready for Augusta next week, that wrist injury has not yet properly healed and his US Masters preparations are likely to be affected.

For Els to mount a serious challenge to the dominant Woods in the opening major of 2003, he needs to be close to his very best. Only then is a genuine rivalry between the game's top two players likely to evolve.