Martin Kaymer is decidedly uncomfortable at the thought of later this week becoming the

Martin Kaymer looking at snaps taken by England photographer Chris Turvey

new World No. 1 at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters.

The 26-year old German will replace England’s Lee Westwood should finish first or second and Westwood is outside the top-22 on the Doha Golf Club course.

“In saying I want to become No. 1 in the world is not my honest answer, and I will just tell you I want to be No. 1 because that is what you want to hear me say,” he said before teeing off on day one of event.

“My goal is what I have said many times before and that is not to become No. 1 in the world right now.

“For me it’s just important to play tournaments, winning those tournaments, and then if I take care of that, then yes, I will become No. 1, one day.

“But at the moment, I’m not focussing on my World Ranking.”

Kaymer is in the Qatar capital after a week’s break since winning a third Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last fortnight.

However unlike his fondness for the Abu Dhabi course, Kaymer has struggled in his three appearances in Qatar missing the halfway cut in 2008 and then finishing 31st in 2009 and 32nd behind Sweden’s Robert Karlsson last year.

Kaymer and Westwood are among seven of the world’s top-20 ranked players competing the 2022 World Cup host city.