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WENTWORTH, England: The battle to be the world's top-ranked golferwill again be a subplot of this week's PGA Championship whichstarts on Thursday at Wentworth. Luke Donald, who deposed Lee Westwood at the top of the rankingswhen winning last year's title, is the only player who can topplecurrent number one Rory McIlroy but needs to repeat his victory of12 months ago to do so. However McIlroy performs, Donald has to finish eighth alone orbetter to have any chance of reclaiming his place at the head ofthe rankings. A win for Westwood, who displaced Tiger Woods as number one inOctober 2010, would leave him just short of top spot. But US Open champion McIlroy is confident he has the game to seeoff his rivals and hang onto his title as the world's best golfer. "You have to think you can beat everybody else," McIlroy toldreporters after competing in the eve-of-tournament Pro-Am atWentworth. "You have to believe you are the best and I certainly believe that.It is just a matter of going out there and showing everyone elsewhat I believe." World number three Westwood, who missed out in a play-off to Donaldlast year, has a new caddy after his regular bag man Billy Fosterinjured his knee playing football ahead of Quail Hollow. New Zealand-born Michael Waite, who won the US Open with MichaelCampbell in 2005, has stepped in but Westwood admitted thatFoster's absence was less than ideal. Westwood said: "It's obviously quite disruptive. He is an integralpart of the team. My game and results have obviously improved thelast few years as a result of Billy being on the bag, so it is verydisruptive. "But I have got an able replacement and we will see how the nextfew weeks goes." Donald will start the defence of his title playing with England'sJustin Rose and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros for the first two roundswhilst McIlroy is grouped with three-time major winner Ernie Elsfrom South Africa and Scotland's Martin Laird. Westwood is grouped with Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Thomas Bjornfrom Denmark. There are a record number of 14 major champions in the fieldincluding Els who with his course designer hat on has made morechanges to the course. Two years ago Els was criticised by his fellow players for alteringthe course, particularly the par-5 18th that caused drama in lastyear's play-off when Westwood hit his approach into the wateraround the green. Further tinkering ahead of the tournament a year ago also did notmeet with the approval of many of the golfers with Ian Poulterbeing one of the loudest to vent his disapproval. Els has made some minor modifications to the course for theflagship event of the European Tour and is convinced he has finallycome up with a fair test of golf. "I think the guys will have a lot better scoring opportunities,"Els told reporters at Wentworth. "It is a par 72, six-under won last year. I think 14 or 16-under isgoing to be the winning score and hopefully we will have a lot moresmiling faces from the players this year." The 18th has provided some grandstand finishes over the years andEls believes the latest changes, with players hitting theirapproach shots from an elevated part of the fairway to a smallgreen surrounded by water will provide the same this year. He added: "It is going to be a great finishing hole. There is waterso there is risk and reward if you want to go for it. It is anexciting finish and you can make an eagle there now." Meanwhile England's Simon Dyson, the reigning Irish and Dutch Openchampion, has withdrawn from the tournament with a hip injury. Dyson, who pulled out of the Players Championship in Florida twoweeks ago, is replaced in the field by Dutchman Maarten Lafeber. - AFP/wm. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Cute Wireless Mouse Manufacturer , IPhone Gamepad Controller for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Dashboard Sticky Pad.
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