Defending champion Ernie Els is relishing the prospect of taking on world number one Tiger Woods when the Dubai Desert Classic starts tomorrow.
Els said Woods and world number three Retief Goosen would pose the biggest threats to his bid to win the European Tour event for a record fourth time.
"I am looking forward to the challenge (with Woods)," South African Els said after visiting a course he designed at Dubai Sports City.
"Tiger is looking good after his victory in the United States, isn't he? But you know I have won here before and I like the course. I have a good karma with the place and feel comfortable here."
World number five Els, who also won here in 1994 and 2002, goes into the tournament at the Emirates Golf Club on the back of a tie for 13th in last week's Qatar Masters, where he equalled Bernhard Langer's tour record of surviving 69 consecutive cuts.
Buoyed by Sunday's play-off victory in the Buick Invitational, Woods will be looking for his maiden success in Dubai after two near misses.
Woods found the water on the 72nd hole on his first appearance in 2001 when he finished tied for second behind Denmark's Thomas Bjorn.
Woods also tied for fifth in 2004 when his close friend and Mark O'Meara took the title.
"I always enjoy visiting Dubai," said Woods. "The level of competition is always extremely high, so I know I will have to play my best golf if I'm going to win."
Last week Woods parred the second play-off hole to edge out Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain. Australia's Robert Green had dropped out at the first play-off hole after running up a bogey six.
Goosen will be making his eighth visit to Dubai. He was runner-up to fellow South African Wayne Westner in 1993.
There are five Irish golfers in this week's field - including teenager Rory McIlroy, his mentor Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Damien McGrane and Gary Murphy.
Els is also bidding to become the first player to stage a successful defence of the Dubai championship.
Els, whose run of successive cuts began at the 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic, was involved in a memorable finale last year.
Trailing playing partner Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and Briton Stephen Dodd, Els hit a monster drive to cut the corner of the dog-leg at the 18th.
Left with an approach shot of 178 yards, Els hit a stunning six-iron to 22 feet and calmly stroked home his putt to record the only eagle at the hole all day.
Meanwhile, this year's European Challenge Tour will feature seven new events and the largest prize fund for an event in the tour's 18-year history.
The new tournaments are in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Scotland and Switzerland, and there is a €300,000 prizefund for the Kazakhstan Open.
