Grapevine: Schumacher Bids for Win at Sporting 'Oscars'

Michael Schumacher will be hoping to stop Tiger Woods as the golfer bids to become World Sportsman of the Year for the the third consecutive time.

Golf's dominant force is nominated alongside Formula One's four times World Champion Schumacher, triple Tour de France winner Armstrong, Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and American sprinter and Olympic gold medallist Maurice Greene at the Laureus World Sports Awards.

"To be nominated for a prize such as the Laureus World Sports Award is both an honour and a big joy to me," Schumacher said in a statement on Tuesday.

"It is just nice to know that through my passion I am obviously able to give pleasure to so many people," added the German who controversially won the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday after Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello handed over the lead in the final few metres of the race.

The event, now in its third year, is known as the sporting Oscars and has sports personalities flocking to the Mediterranean principality. A strong cast are in the running to take the women's title from last year's winner Cathy Freeman.

Tennis players Jennifer Capriati, the Australian and French Open champion, and U.S. compatriot Venus Williams, who last year won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, are nominated along with American pole vaulter Stacy Dragila, Dutch swimmer Inge de Bruijn and Swedish golfer Annika Sorenstam.

"I am honoured to have my accomplishments in golf recognised by a nomination," said Sorenstam.

The event also honours the best team of the year, with the Australian men's cricket team, Ferrari's Formula One outfit and Bayern Munich football club, last year's European champions, competing for the title.

Laureus also awards a best newcomer of the year trophy and nominees include England soccer midfielder Steven Gerrard, Belgian tennis player Justine Henin and Formula One's Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya.

Goran Ivanisevic, who won Wimbledon as a wildcard ranked 125th in the world, is favourite for the comeback of the year award.

There are also nominations for the sportsperson with a disability and the best alternative sportsperson.