MASTERS Singh sets his sights on replacing Woods

The 41-year-old wants to be the No. 1 golfer in the world.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Vijay Singh doesn't often volunteer information, but he figured this was worth sharing.
His father, a former airline mechanic and part-time teaching pro in Fiji, has come all the way to Augusta National to watch Singh play in the Masters.
"It's the first time my dad is ever here," Singh said Tuesday.
Singh has done some amazing things since his father gave him a used set of clubs, and watched him dash across the runway at the Nandi airport to get to the golf course.
He has become a touring pro in Asia, then Europe; developed a game good enough to come to the PGA Tour and become rookie of the year, win a PGA Championship and also a green jacket from the Masters.
And now, at age 41 and fitter than some of the flat-bellies just out of college, Singh has a chance to replace Tiger Woods at No. 1 in the world.
Eyes another win
The last part might be the longest road, but Singh could take a huge step in that direction with another victory in the Masters, which gets under way Thursday on an Augusta National course that is firm, fast and dangerous.
"I really focus on what I'm doing, what I need to do to improve my ranking if I'm playing," Singh said.
One reason there is so much attention on Woods' game coming into the Masters is that he has a legitimate threat for the first time since David Duval was No. 1 in the summer of 1999.
Singh won four times last year, captured the PGA Tour money title to end Woods' four years of domination, and nearly beat him out for PGA Tour player of the year.
Nothing changed with the new year. He won at Pebble Beach for his 12th consecutive finish in the top 10, and the gap between No. 1 and No. 2 in the world ranking has never been this close -- 3.35 points -- in the two years since the system was revamped more than two years ago.
Still, even when Woods isn't at his best, he's still better than most.
Making up ground
And Singh understands that the only way to make up ground is in the majors. The Masters would be an excellent place to start, and Singh already has a locker in the Champions Room at Augusta National to prove he can do it.
"This is, to me, the hardest test of golf we play," said the hardest-working man in golf. "It requires the whole package. You can't come here with one part of the game missing. You're just not going to function.
"For some reason, when I come into the gates, my game just lifts another level. Hopefully, I just maintain that for the whole week."
Singh's father won't be the only company he keeps at Augusta National.
While Woods is a three-time Masters champion and the favorite to join Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer as the only guys with at least four green jackets, there are plenty of players on top of their games.
Challengers
Phil Mickelson might be the steadiest this year. He won the Bob Hope Classic, and has finished out of the top 10 only once this year. Mickelson is No. 1 on the money list for the first time in six years.
Ernie Els won in Hawaii and Australia, and his victory at Royal Melbourne in the Heineken Classic was particularly noteworthy because the course is often compared to Augusta National.
Mike Weir, the defending champion at the Masters, already has defended one title this year at Riviera.
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