World number one
Luke Donald is hoping to increase his lead over Northern Ireland's
US Open champion Rory McIlroy in Europe's Race to Dubai this week at the Madrid Masters.
Donald heads to Madrid looking to defend the title he won last year, with his eyes on keeping ahead of his rivals in the money list.
The Madrid Masters seems an unlikely tournament for the world number one to take part in, with its low prize money - just €166,660 (£143,632) for first place - but Donald feels he owes it to compete at El Encin as the victory last year kick-started his climb to the top.
He is aiming to become the first player ever to finish on top of the order of merit on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour, with his lead in Europe a healthy €1.3 million ahead of McIlroy.
As well as McIlroy, Donald's next three rivals for the Race to Dubai - 2011 Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel,
Lee Westwood and 2010 USPGA champion Martin Kaymer - are skipping the event
"My chief rivals aren't playing so I'm hoping to put a few more points on the board. I'm on my last legs but I'll give it my all. I'm out to win," he added.
Donald's lead on the PGA Tour money list is less secure as he is only $68,971 (£44,694) ahead of his only rival Webb Simpson with three events in the season to go.
The pro's main rivals for the Madrid title will be Italian trio Edoardo and Francesco Molinari and teenage sensation Matteo Manassero, while Europe's
Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal will also be in the field.
Meanwhile, in the US this Thursday,
golf fans will see the competitive return of former world number one
Tiger Woods, who has plummeted out of the world's top 50 for the first time in 15 years.
This week's Frys.com Open in California will be Woods' first event since missing the cup in August's USPGA.
Woods last won a professional tournament at the JBWere Australian Masters in November 2009 and combined with his lack of competitive action in the run up to the Presidents Cup - which he received a wildcard for - he is playing in a Fall Series event for the first time in his career.
The 14-time major winner revealed he was working harder than ever to compete at the Presidents' Cup.
"Things are going great. We're practicing very hard up at the Medalist, and I'm playing as much as I possibly can, something that I hadn't done all summer because I hadn't been cleared to do it," he said.
Hopes are high for Woods this week as he reportedly comes off the back of a course record 62 at his home club the Medalist.
