Top 2 in Abu Dhabi Championship

The world's top two players, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, will head an all-star cast of the biggest names in golf at the eighth annual Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship - running January 17-20 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. The announcement was made in a press conference at the The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi. After dazzling local galleries when paired over the opening 54 holes of this year's tournament, McIlroy, a two-time Major winner and the current world number one, and Woods, widely-recognised as the most high-profile player in the sport's history and a 14-time Major winner, will head the battle for Abu Dhabi's prestigious falcon trophy and a share of the event's US $2.7m prize purse. "Confirming Rory and Tiger, the world's top two players and a duo with well-documented respect and admiration for each other's talents, represents a significant coup and demonstrates how far the Championship has come in its relatively short history," said Faisal Al Sheikh, Event Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism '&' Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the Championship organizer. "Rory and Tiger are true giants of the game and represent only our opening salvo - we are actively working to bring another world-class field to Abu Dhabi and further player announcements will be made in coming weeks." A member of both the European PGA and PGA Tours, Northern Ireland's McIlroy shot to the summit of the sport's rankings earlier this year following a string of victories culminating in a staggering eight-shot victory in August's US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island - the Ulsterman's second Major. With four Tour wins in 2012, McIlroy subsequently played a central role in Europe's historic Ryder Cup defence at Medinah Country Club in Chicago, Illinois. "I've come close a few times in Abu Dhabi now - hopefully it's my turn," McIlroy revealed via a live telephone link at the event's official launch at five-star The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort - the Championship's new official hotel partner. "This will be the first time I've headed to Abu Dhabi as world number one and I'm determined to keep the wins coming and cement my ranking. The strength of the field means there will be a ton of world ranking points on offer so Abu Dhabi will be a really significant tournament that sets the tone for the year. I had a great tussle with Tiger nine months ago and I'm sure he'll be in contention again. We've spent a lot of time playing together this year and it's always fun challenging the best. I've made no secret of the fact he's a hero of mine and there's nothing better than tussling with your heroes." "I had heard so much about Abu Dhabi in the past and I was very impressed by the crowds, the organisation and the overall atmosphere," said Tiger. "I really enjoyed my time in Abu Dhabi and I wanted to return, particularly as I played well and came so close last year. I'd love nothing more than to win in January and start the season in the best possible way." With the Woods-McIlroy effect ensuring this year's Championship shattered its own four-day attendance record by attracting more than 82,000 spectators to the National Course, the event's title sponsor, HSBC, believes the stellar cast lined up for January will further cement the tournament's billing on the international golf calendar. Simon Cooper, Deputy Chairman '&' Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Middle East '&' North Africa, added: "The Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship has become the traditional curtain-raiser to the new season and the past couple of years have seen the event establish itself as the jewel in the crown of Middle Eastern golf. As a centre of international trade, Abu Dhabi is a very fitting location for this high profile HSBC event. With the support of local governments, this region is now a major player on golf's global stage - 2012's event witnessed the strongest field ever assembled in the Middle East - and we're anticipating an even stronger line up for 2013." One of the family-friendly tournament's key off-course attractions, the 12,000m? Championship Village, will once again bring a fantastic range of activities, attractions, prizes, games, competitions and live performances to complement the National Course action.