RORY MCILROY AND Woods headline a star-studded field for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship starting on Thursday.

The two leading players in men’s golf, who have been paired together for the first two rounds, will open their 2013 season at the picturesque Abu Dhabi Golf Club.

McIlroy, who topped the European and US money lists last season, enjoyed a memorable campaign in 2012. The world number one claimed five events, including the PGA Championship and the Honda Classic as well as featuring in the memorable European Ryder Cup triumph.

McIlroy has finished second for the past two years in Abu Dhabi and is looking forward to challenging for top honours yet again.

“I’ve had a nice break over Christmas and the New Year, but it’s back to business now,” the Northern Irishman said. “Abu Dhabi is a great place to start the season, as it’s one of my favourite tournaments. This is the sixth time I will have played the tournament, and I’ve always done pretty well here in the past.

“In the last four years, I have had two second place finishes, a third and a fifth, so I know it’s a golf course that really suits my game.”

As for Woods, the world number two, failed to win on the European Tour last year but took out three PGA Tour tournaments – the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Memorial Tournament and the AT&T National. Reigning champion Robert Rock of England returns to the United Arab Emirates to defend his title, having won the championship by one stroke ahead of McIlroy.

Martin Kaymer, a three-time winner of the event, is also set to feature on Thursday. The German first lifted the trophy in 2008 before back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2011. Veteran South African Ernie Els, the reigning Open Champion, American Jason Dufner, Italian Francesco Molinari, Volvo Golf Champion runner-up Scott Jamieson and Colin Montgomerie are just some of the players teeing off today.

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