The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship tees off on Thursday with world No. 1, Rory McIlroy and No. 3, Tiger Woods both in the field.
This will be the first opportunity to watch McIlroy play with his new equipment. The McIlroy team has left Titleist and will officially announce the new sponsor on Monday. Will he have an adjustment period or will he continue his stellar play from 2012?
Most golfers feel changing to a different brand of clubs is much easier to accomplish than changing to a completely new golf ball. If Rory’s new deal is like Tiger’s he will be dressed head to toe in the Nike Swoosh and use Nike clubs and balls. Will Rory be able to work the same magic with the Nike ball as he did with the Titleist Pro V1?
Golf fans will also be treated to the renewal of the McIlroy/Woods rivalry next week. Over the past two years McIlroy has won seven tournaments world wide including two major championships. He has moved to No. 1 on the Official World Golf Ranking and widened the gap between himself and No. 2 Luke Donald with three wins at the end of 2012 season.
Tiger Woods won three PGA Tour events in 2012 and moved from outside the Top-50 in the world rankings to No. 3. He has not won a major title since the 2008 U.S. Open and is still trying to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major victories. Tiger turned 37-years-old at the end of 2012. The clock is ticking.
Turn that clock back one year. Can you remember who out-dueled both Tiger and Rory last year at Abu Dhabi?
Woods and Robert Rock were tied for the lead after 54 holes. McIlroy was two shots behind the leaders heading into the final round.
McIlroy fired a 69 on Sunday but Robert “The Hair” Rock shot a final round 70 to beat Rory by a single stroke. In what was to be a continuing story for the rest of 2012 Tiger could not break par on Sunday, shot an even par 72 and fell to T-3.
Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell and Matteo Manassero were also in the mix on the last day.
Abu Dhabi always draws a quality field and brings the big names from the European Tour to the Middle East to start their season.
The tournament starts on Thursday, January 17, and can be seen on the Golf Channel.