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GRAEME STORM will be among a record number of European Tour members looking to bring years of Tiger Woods domination to an end in the World Golf Championships CA Championship, starting today.

But the realistic Hartlepool golfer is only using the star-filled event at the Doral Resort in Miami as a barometer to illustrate how far he has to go before he catches the sport's cream.

Appearances in the United States are rare for Storm and he makes no secret of the fact he is not entirely convinced that the courses and conditions across the Atlantic suit his game.

But, after a few days of low-key practice with compatriots Paul Casey, Nick Dougherty and Oliver Fisher on the blustery Florida fairways, the 29-year-old feels ready to make a name for himself in one of the biggest events of the year.

"It's strange when you come to a place like this," said Storm, who tees off with Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Liang Wen-Chong later today. "It's obviously a fantastic event but I'm never really sure that the way I play is suited to the American way.

"Courses are a lot different.

But it is good to be here and it is a competition that I will use as a benchmark to show me what is needed to get where I want to be.

"There is a top-class field out here and it is obviously fantastic to be part of it. This is more about me trying to get four good rounds in, rather than making predictions of a top-ten place or whatever."

After a slow start to the year, when he failed to make his first two cuts, he made his first cut of 2008 at the Dubai Desert Classic at the beginning of February.

Although he only managed to finish 62nd, he cleared things in his head after changing a few things in his game and earlier this month he finished fifth and 12th in the Johnnie Walker Classic and the Maybank Malaysian Open respectively.

Those two events brought him his first major cheques of the season and, knowing the prize at stake in the States, he is looking forward to pitting his wits against the best in the world in Florida.

Storm will be one of 42 European Tour members teeing up at the Blue Monster course, which is an indication of the strength in depth this particular division has at the moment.

And while Swede Henrik Stenson and Lee Westwood are among the form men looking to prevent Woods from claiming a seventh WGC-CA title, Storm is more concerned with helping his own game progress.

"I wasn't aware of the amount of European Tour names we had playing in this, but it does show you just how strong the Tour is at the moment," said Storm.

"The Americans know all about the strength we have, given our continued success in the Ryder Cup, and it would be great to see one of us win over here.

"Tiger is in terrific form, though, and it is going to be a sizeable task for anyone else to win it this year."

Woods claimed his seventh successive PGA Tour victory in the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend to climb to third in the all-time list of most Tour victories.

His 64 successes equalled that of Ben Hogan, while he is also on track to surpass Jack Nicklaus (73) and Sam Snead (82).

With Woods in such sparkling form it is difficult to see anyone from the European Tour following in the footsteps of Darren Clarke, Ermie Els and Stenson, who have all won a WGC event.

Storm is unconcerned. "Coming over here is more about gaining valuable experience," said the man from The Wynyard Club, who gained his place after winning the French Open last summer.

"I am only certain of a place in the Open this year, so if I'm to qualify for the USPGA, the US Open or the Masters, these are the events that will help me develop.

"The World Golf Championship is a massive event. You only have to take a look at all the golfers here to realise that. This is effectively one of the majors now. I'm just hoping for a few good days."

10:57am Thursday 20th March 2008

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