Woods eager to battle McIlroy for top honours

tiger-woods4Sydney, Jan 15 : Ace golfer Tiger Woods is looking forward to take on world number one player Rory McIlroy in the new season after their rivalry dominated the most of last year.

The new golf season gets into full swing in Abu Dhabi this week and all eyes are on top players McIlroy and Woods, News. com. au reports.

It is the second straight year that the Northern Irishman and the American have opted to get things going in the Gulf emirate, but the situation has evolved distinctly since 12 months ago.

The potential rivalry between the two in 2013 has been hotly anticipated and they are likely to be paired together Thursday and Friday in the first two rounds of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.

Woods, who is back to the world No. 2 ranking two and a quarter years after losing the top spot, is reluctant to become too embroiled in promoting a two-man show.

Woods said McIlroy had a wonderful 2012, and my hat is off to him, adding the Ulsterman deserved Player of the Year.

The American added that whether he and McIlroy develop a rivalry remains to be seen, adding they will look at the results the next five or 10 years and see if it becomes a rivalry or not.

Woods said he and McIlroy would have to win big events and play each other down the stretch and that hasn''t happened yet, adding they need to face each other more often at major events to develop any kind of serious rivalry. (ANI)