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Ernie Els looking forward to Vijay Singh challenge

South Africa's world number five Ernie Els is wary of the challenge he faces from long-time friend Vijay Singh at the Qatar Masters starting on Thursday.

Els, who won here on his debut in 2005, has great memories of Doha and says the course is in wonderful shape but he also knows the world number two from Fiji will push him all the way.

"Although he didn't play last year or the years before he's a professional and will adapt to the course and...to what he has to do and I'm sure he'll be there on Sunday," said Els.

"Perhaps I know the greens a little bit better because of last year and I know where they will break and I would like to think I have, perhaps, a very small advantage.

"Playing against Vijay anywhere in the world is always a great challenge," Els told reporters on Wednesday.

"It makes this year's Qatar Masters all the more difficult to win but there's extra satisfaction if you do, obviously."

Asia's top guns, led by number one Thaworn Wiratchant, are also aiming for glory against a star-studded field including Ryder Cup stalwarts Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, Thomas Bjorn, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Paul McGinley and David Howell.

"We have a tougher field this year with Vijay and some of the other European stars, so it should be a fantastic week obviously," said Els.

There are mouthwatering match-ups in the opening two rounds of the event co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours.

Thaworn, who won a record four titles last year, has been paired with Singh and Howell, while twice Asian number one Thongchai Jaidee will play alongside Els and Bjorn.

"It's always nice to come back to somewhere you have good memories," said Els. "When you are defending a tournament title you always have great memories and this is no different.

"I played yesterday (Tuesday), a full 18 holes and I think the course is in wonderful shape, even better than last year."

Els, who is on the verge of equalling German Bernhard Langer's record for consecutive cuts on the European Tour (69), said he did not really think about statistics.

"When you play a golf tournament you try to be ready with your total game and when that is well groomed and well practised then you feel you are ready for the tournament.

"That is what I have worked on in the last couple of years. I haven't been thinking about the statistics," he said.

The South African, who is on the comeback trail after suffering a knee injury last year, is still apprehensive about his knee and looking at one tournament at a time.

"There's always the fear that when you come back you will not be the same and something might go missing forever as you say," said Els.