GOLF: Ernie Els, winner of his last three events, has given himself five years to achieve an historic career Grand Slam.

The world number two added the British Open at Muirfield last year to his two US Open victories, and has made a stunning start to this season.

The South African won the season-opening Mercedes Championship on the US Tour and made it back-to-back wins in Hawaii by clinching the Sony Open last Sunday.

Els also won his final event of last year, the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa, but is more concerned about completing his set of major titles than making it four in a row in the Caltex Masters in Singapore.

"I give myself the next five years to reach my goal, getting all four majors," said the 33-year-old.

"I'm going to the wrong side of my 30s soon, it's time to step it up. To overtake Tiger Woods as world number one would be the ultimate, but to be honest I want the majors first."

Victories in the Masters and USPGA Championship would make Els only the fifth player to have won all four majors after Woods, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan.

"I'm still trying to get myself to a level where I can compete day in, day out, with the rest of the world," Els added.

"You have to do that in major championships, that's the ultimate in our sport, winning majors. I don't think I will ever be a guy chasing money titles."

Els feels he is reaping the rewards of work with psychologist Jos Vanstiphout and coach David Leadbetter.

"I don't think I've ever won four in a row. I normally peak in the summer so this early form is a bonus," added Els, who played with Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong in Wednesday's pro-am. "It's been a good run since the Matchplay in October. Things I've been working on with Jos and David and even Ricci (Roberts, his caddie) are really starting to pay off.

"I always had a pretty good mental picture of what I wanted to do but I just got a little down on myself and tried too hard at times, and my periods of being really good mentally and physically were shorter than they are now.

"I'd play well for two or three weeks at a time and disappear but now we are starting to have a good base there, playing better for longer periods of time."

Els's winning streak is all the more remarkable for the fact he has changed all his equipment this season, something which normally heralds a period of adjustment.

"To play well with the new equipment this early on is great," Els said.

"It is a bit of luck but the guys at Titleist have worked hard to get the right clubs in my hand. To get into equipment sometimes takes you a while but this has fallen into place.

"To go and win twice is a wonderful start and I'd like to continue and have a wonderful year, but this tournament is wide open.

"Because of the way the course is designed big numbers can be made out there very quickly by anybody."

Els is a hot favourite for the event due in part to the relative weakness of the field, with Denmark's Thomas Bjorn, Ryder Cup hero Phillip Price and last week's winner Mark Foster pulling out.

Denmark's Anders Hansen, 56th, is the next highest ranked player in the world rankings competing, and the Volvo PGA champion comes into the event in good form having contested the six-man play-off won by Foster in Johannesburg.

"It was like an emotional rollercoaster," said Hansen, hoping to remain in the top 64 in the world until February 17th to qualify for the World Matchplay in California.

Ernie Els, who is competing in the Caltex Masters in Singapore this week.