Golf: McIlroy, Woods set for first clash

ABU DHABI: The new golf season gets into full swing in Abu Dhabi this week with the top two ranking players – Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods – opening their accounts. 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 number two ranking and a quarter years after losing the top spot, is reluctant to become too embroiled in promoting a two-man show. “Rory had a wonderful year, and hate off to him,” said Woods. “He deserved Player of the Year. Whether we develop a rivalry remains to be seen. We’ll look at the results the next five or 10 years and see if it becomes a rivalry or not.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2013.