There are so many things to look forward to in the New Year. To begin with, 2014 could well be the year when the much anticipated battle between Tiger Woods versus Rory McIlroy finally takes place in earnest.

We thought it might happen in 2012, but Tiger failed to get going then while Rory was in brilliant form. And this year, Rory was a shadow of his former self as he lost his No. 1 ranking while Woods won five times on the PGA Tour.

However, by winning the Australian Open towards the end of the year, Rory has shown that he is back in form. I just get a feeling that he’d come out all guns blazing early in the season, which would mean you can expect some fireworks during the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.

And then the two will play for the first together in 2014 at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic. Given how well both play at the Majlis course, all I can say is that the UAE fans are in for some thrilling moments early in the New Year.

Phil Mickelson is going to make an early start to his season again in Abu Dhabi, but I have a feeling that all these superstars will have to play second fiddle to Henrik Stenson if the big Swede can maintain his stupendous form in 2014.

If Adam Scott follows a schedule similar to 2013, he will make a late start and play very few tournaments until the Masters. That gives Henrik a fantastic chance to accumulate some world ranking points during the Desert Swing, where I am sure he will play all three events. And that means we could well have a change in the world order by the time we reach the first Major of the season.

It’s going to be quite an exciting season for the ladies too. Inbee Park will surely find it difficult to replicate her 2013 form, when she won the first three Majors of the year. But the two players to watch out for in the new season are surely young Alexi Thompson, and the even younger Lydia Ko.

Personally, I am hoping for a much better 2014 after suffering from my wrist and finger injury for most part of the season. I felt much better with my swing towards the end of the year, and a good start will surely do wonders to my confidence.

Jeev Milkha Singh is a four-time champion on the European Tour