SYDNEY, Australia -- Australian Adam Scott believes he can become the world's best golfer within five years and will try to back that claim at the Australian Open starting at Royal Sydney on Thursday.

"The only world ranking that matters is No. 1," Scott told a news conference on Wednesday.

"I think if everything went to plan and I played as well as I expect myself to, I think it would take five years before I could be No. 1."

Scott, 26, is at a career-high fourth behind Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Phil Mickelson, and comes into his national open riding a win in last week's TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. That success lifted his earnings this year to almost $5 million.

Scott said any attempt to supplant Woods as world No. 1 would likely take five years because "the fact (is) he's at least five years more advanced in the game than me as far as his playing abilities."

Asked if he was catching Woods, whose ranking points average was three times better than Scott's, he said "not from the results this year, no."

"He certainly has separated himself from all of us this year. He is just showing us he's still around and still means business.

"I feel like I've improved a lot as a player but he's stepped it back up to a level where we've all seen him play before and if he maintains that level for another year or so he's going to be a pretty hard guy to catch."

Scott said the key to his own improvement was experience, a quality likely to increase this week as he carries the favorite's tag into the $1.14 million Australian Open.

"It's something you just can't get when you're a young player just starting out," he said.

"But I think every part of my game has improved this year - the physical part of my game, chipping, putting, driving the golf ball.

"I drove it the best I ever have I think this year. I've certainly improved in all areas, but I can still see room for improvement in all areas, and that's what I'm going to have to do if I'm going to win majors or in five or 10 years hopefully get to No. 1."

Scott said he expects to win this week.

"I don't feel I am under any extra pressure. I know my golf is good enough to win down here. I don't think I have to justify that," he said.

"It would be nice to get a win. It would make the end of this year really special."

Scott faces strong competition for the Open title from compatriot and U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy, and for the spotlight from Australian great Greg Norman, who is playing the tournament for the first time since 1999.

Other strong contenders include Australians Robert Allenby, who will defend his title, and Stuart Appleby.

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