McIlroy the Cub Keen to Take on Fully Grown Tiger

This is the big boys' school for Rory McIlroy, the brilliant teenager who eight months ago was playing amateur golf and who yesterday found himself called in to make up the numbers in a nine-hole challenge match featuring, among others, the world's best player.

"I'd love to meet Tiger. Hopefully, we'll say hello," McIlroy confessed before heading to the 1st tee of the par-three course at the Emirates club. Alas for the young Irishman, who made an endearing attempt to make eye-contact on the practice putting green, Woods was too busy swapping gossip with Thomas Bjorn and Lee Westwood to talk. The chances are the pair will meet soon.

These are early days in a nascent career but, thus far, Mclroy has done nothing since turning pro after last year's Walker Cup to dispel the notion he is the finest European prospect since Sergio Garcia. Last season he needed three tournaments, one of which saw him finish third at the Dunhill Links Championship, to earn enough money for his tour card. His form has been steady rather than spectacular so far this season but he has still managed a couple of top-20 finishes, and played himself into contention at last week's Qatar Masters, where he went round with the eventual winner Adam Scott in the third round.

While McIlroy slipped back to finish in a tie for 33rd, the Australian covered his last 27 holes in 16-under to crush the field. A lesser talent, a weaker spirit, might have been deflated by the salutary lesson in the realities of what it takes to succeed in professional golf, but the Irishman insisted he had been inspired. "You look at Adam Scott and you think if can work hard enough and have the dedication I can be as good as him one. When you see that it just makes you want to work harder."

It goes without saying that whatever Scott can do, Woods can do better. Even so, McIlroy insisted he would not be intimidated should his dreams come true and he found himself paired alongside the world No1 over the coming four days. "To be honest he's just like the rest of us. I don't think I'll get intimidated by him, although I've got a lot of respect for him because he's the best player that has ever lived," he said, adding that as tennis appears to have found a new generation of younger players to challenge Roger Federer, so golf will find its own equivalent.

"Tiger has made everyone work so much harder. He has set the benchmark and it would great to see same younger guys come through to challenge him. Obviously, I'd love to be part of that group. It's a long way ahead and you can't really predict what's going to happen, but if I work hard and remain dedicated I think I can go a long way in this game."