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Woods: star attraction

Woods is on a really special run of form at the moment, almost to the point that I would consider, for the first time in the history of the game, that there is a viable possibility of him winning the Grand Slam in the calendar year.

Mark Roe
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GOLF NIGHT
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There will be an extra special buzz of electricity around the Emirates Course this week because the undisputed, pound-for-pound, best golfer in the world is in town.

From Tiger Woods' practice round, to his Pro-Am, through all four tournament rounds, everyone is so excited to see him out there and we are intrigued to see how he can perform over the course.

He is a past winner and he always contends when he comes. He has won five of his last six tournaments - he finished second in the other one - so you can't say anything other than that Tiger Woods is head and shoulders above anyone else in the game.

We have known that for a long time but it seems to me that Woods is on a really special run of form at the moment, almost to the point that I would consider, for the first time in the history of the game, that there is a viable possibility of him winning the Grand Slam in the calendar year. That is how well I think he is playing.

He smashed Buick field to pieces at Torrey Pines and of course that is the venue for the US Open this year, so it would be a massive shock to me if he didn't win round there again.

He has been in the gym all winter, working out, and he is stronger than he has ever been and it just seems to me that mentally he is in such a good place that I don't think there is anyone who can touch him if he plays well.

I don't think anyone can touch him but you might have read some quotes from Ian Poulter about how he could be up there with Tiger. Now I am not going to go into that here in this column but readers interested in this subject might want to tune into Golf Night on Thursday night (6.30pm, Sky Sports 2) and take part in our golf forum.

Best on the planet

Back to the tournament in Dubai, if Woods travels well and brings the game that has served him so well in the last six tournaments, then no one will beat him this week. I don't care how anyone else plays, he will beat anyone on the planet if he brings his "A" game.

But if he is slightly off then we have many of our best stars running into great form and ready to catch him if he falls.

Lee Westwood has finished second-second-fifth in his last three starts and is playing some of his best golf; Henrik Stenson was second last week and is running into form; Martin Kaymer is fresh off his win in Abu Dhabi and they all make up an incredibly strong field - the strongest one we will see until the Accenture World Matchplay.

One of the hottest players on the planet right now however won't be there and who could say that Adam Scott doesn't deserve the week off after his superb, closing 61 on the way to victory in the Qatar Masters.

He started three back and from the second he made three birdies on the first four holes and then hit the flag at five and rolled that one in for another one, he was the man at the top and the man to catch.

What normally happens then is that you slow down, but unfortunately for the rest of the field, in Adam's case, he just accelerated away. The 61 was a par at the last and a very 'birdieable' hole.

Finest round

It was perhaps one of the finest last rounds that we will see all year and it is so rare that anyone shoots 61 to win a tournament - you can't overestimate how good he was on Sunday.

There was a bit of interest at the end when he didn't take on the green on the par 5 18th, which might have given him a chance of a magical 59. He had 260 in front, 290 to the flag... get it on and you have a putt for a 59!

But do you know what? When you analyse it afterwards it was a great example of how Scott has matured and it is something that will stand him in good stead in the future in his quest for his first major.

With Stenson still playing behind him, the only way he could lose the tournament was to go in the water, make six or seven and leave the door open for the Swede, who has the length to reach 18 in two.

It wasn't so long ago that we watched Ernie Els at Leopard Creek make an eight down the last to lose a tournament, so it does happen.

If you want to win the trophy on Sunday, Scott's way in Qatar is the way to do it. Let's see if anyone is contention to beat Tiger Woods on Sunday in Dubai.