Golf: Five-time major winner Seve Ballesteros refuses to concede his playing career is over despite speculation last year he would retire.

Speaking yesterday before this week's Madeira Island Open, the 45-year-old said: "I believe in what I can achieve and I believe in me. I am not interested in what people believe in me. I did say my motivation was low, but to pack up and go home is the easiest thing to do.

"All I have to do is prove to myself I can compete. I have good vibrations and good desire."

Madeira has brought Ballesteros some of his few moderate successes over the last three years when elsewhere he has missed cut after cut.

The Spaniard was written off last summer when he left the Irish Open in misery after being disqualified for signing for a wrong score and quickly withdrew from the British Open at Muirfield.

Yesterday he refused to even talk about his years of woe as he plays for the first time in six months, having featured in only nine events last year.

Ballesteros said: "I'm not talking about anything from the past, especially if it is negative. Ask me how I won the British Open in 1984, how I won the Masters in 1980 and 1983, how I won five World Matchplays. There have been too many negatives in the papers."

Lying sixth on Europe's order of merit, Robert-Jan Derksen, who won in Dubai two weeks ago, is the highest-ranked player in the event. Spain's Diego Borrego defends in Madeira, where eight former Ryder Cup men are on duty, including Philip Walton, who is playing on a sponsor's invitation.

He is joined by compatriots Peter Lawrie, Gary Murphy, Damien McGrane, Stephen Browne and Gary Cullen.

Across the Atlantic, after more than four months apart Tiger Woods and Ernie Els will finally compete in the same strokeplay tournament when the world's top-ranked duo tee it up at the Bay Hill Invitational in what may provide a clue as to how the year will unfold.

Woods, recovering from left knee surgery, watched on television as Els began the year by winning the first two PGA European Tour events in Australia before adding two more victories in the US Tour.

The only event both Woods and Els entered so far this season was the Matchplay Championship. Woods won it and Els lost in the first round.

At last, the South African will get a chance to show whether he really has closed the gap on the world number one.

Darren Clarke will also hope to make his presence felt at Bay Hill.