For most players on the European Tour, barring those who made the trip to Durban for the Volvo Golf Champions, the 2014 season really begins with the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

And honestly, there is no better place to kick-start the year than the UAE capital, followed by the next two events in Doha and Dubai. The hospitality and the brilliant weather that we get here is just a bonus, but what really sets this tournament apart is the quality and depth of the field that they manage to attract each year and the condition in which we get the Abu Dhabi Golf Club course for the week.

I know Martin Kaymer has won this tournament in the past years with amazing scores of 24-under par and 21-under par. But that really does not reflect the challenge that we face on this course.

I think the 13- and 14-under par winning scores in the last couple of years by Robert Rock and Jamie Donaldson are more realistic numbers, which are also a great indication of how the course has changed in recent times.

Based on my practice rounds, a couple of things stand out about the course set-up this year. I am sure everyone is going to talk about the rough height; it surely is the deepest in all the years I have played the golf course. Therefore, the premium is going to be on accuracy off the tees.

Change in situation

Secondly, even though I felt the greens were slightly slower than last year — and this is a situation that can be easily changed before Thursday’s first round — they were rolling beautifully.

And I also like the new, elevated tee on the 18th.

It just gives the hole a whole new look, and there is a real danger that you can run out of fairway with your driver if you are aided by a tailwind.

But it also makes it easier to reach the green with two good shots, thus setting up eagle chances and making it an even more exciting finish.

I’d say only 20 per cent of the field last year had a realistic chance of reaching that green in two last year.

Competitive field

As for the field, any tournament that manages to attract four out of the top-10 ranked players in the world must be doing a fantastic job.

So, you have Henrik Stenson, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia this week, which surely makes it difficult for the rest of us, but as Robert and Jamie have proved over the last two years, this is a course where others have a great chance of winning too.

Obviously, Kaymer and Paul Casey have great history here, while guys such as Branden Grace, Luke Donald, Thomas Bjorn and Joost Luiten have shown great form in the past weeks.

One thing is for sure, it’s going to be a fascinating battle for the Falcon Trophy this week.

— The author is a four-time champion on the European Tour.