Even the famously humble Ernie Els had to admit he is playing "some of the best golf I've ever played" to describe his latest triumph.

The South African collected his fifth win in six starts at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth.

It seems there is only one player who can stop the man called "the Big Easy" - and Tiger Woods is back.

The world number one has picked up where he left off after a knee injury, by storming to a four-stroke victory at the Buick Invitational.

A satisfied Woods said of his comeback in San Diego, "I got better each day."

A highly anticipated showdown between the mighty twosome is pencilled in for March at the Accenture Match Play Championship.

Ernie's famous five

Johnnie Walker Classic, 16 Feb: 1st Heineken Open, 2 Feb: 1st Hawaii Open, 19 Jan: 1st Mercedes Ch'ships, 12 Jan: 1st Nedbank Challenge, 1 Dec: 1st

Els has already become the first player ever to win the opening two PGA Tour events of the season. And his other result this year was second in Singapore.

Woods has just returned to action after a knee operation and will himself be going for an unprecedented third successive Masters title in April.

But he admits it will take time to get back to his best, and he could face a tough challenge if Els keeps up his present form.

"I don't think I've ever seen Ernie swing so well," Woods said last week.

"I think it's great that he has made such a good start. It's going to be a challenge because he's playing so well, but it's going to be fun getting out there and playing against him."

Els has long been flagged up as one of the very few golfers who, at his best, could give Tiger a real run for his money.

But it is only in the last 12 months that he has actually looked like he believed it was possible.

Last time he got close was in 2000.

That year he lost a play-off to Woods at the Mercedes and finished second in three Majors, defeats which left Els struggling with a crisis of confidence.

Woods aims to be back in two weeks

"He (Tiger) definitely shot us all down, especially me," remembers Els.

"I finished second six times that year. I tried to downplay it, but it eventually took its toll on me."

But Els is a different player now from the one who has been forced to play in Tiger's shadow in the past.

His home life is more settled than it has ever been, following the birth last October of his son.

Physically he is fitter than ever before, while sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout has eliminated the mental doubts that plagued Els right up to the moment he finally won the Open play-off last July.

He can also win under any conditions, anywhere round the world - in the wind and rain of Muirfield, the heat of Dubai or the humidity or the southern states in America.

Last season Woods still held sway - in 18 US Tour events he had 13 top 10 finishes and won five times.

In the same number of tournaments, Els finished in the top 10 seven times and won twice.

But he was close. Woods averaged 68.56 shots per round on the Tour; Els 69.50.

An epic rivalry between Els and Woods is just what golf fans need.

It has the potential to light up the game just as another USA-South African battle, that between Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, did so many years ago.