While Turkish Airlines is the latest sponsor to draw heavily on McIlroy versus Woods in promoting the event the 23-year old McIlroy does not see it that way.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy presented with his one ‘Rory McIlroy’ named Turkish Airlines model airplane. (Photo – Fran Caffrey/www.golffile.ie)

“I’m looking forward to tackling Tiger as everyone knows he’s been a hero of my growing up,” said McIlroy.

“To get to play alongside him these days and to compete against him is a dream come true.

“This will be the first match where we have played against each other head-to-head compared to individual stroke play so it should be fun, and it’s a match I would really like to win.

”But while I would rather be a part of this than not, I’m in a great position being compared to Tiger.

“However people who watch sports want to see some form of rivalry between myself and Tiger but I don’t see it as that’s what Tiger and I have.

“It’s just great to see events like this and I am just pleased to be mentioned in the same conversation with Tiger.”

McIlry and Woods join six others including Lee Westwood, Justin Rose, Webb Simpson, Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar and Charl Schwartzel in a medal match-play format for a first prize of $US 1.5m and with the eighth placed receiving $US 300,000.

Woods arrived in Turkey late Monday afternoon local time after a 10 ½ flight on his own private jet from Orlando and for a first visit to mainland Europe since 2003.

Woods also expressed his personal disappointment inlast month’s Ryder Cup when he managed to secure just a half-a-point in his seventh Ryder Cup appearance, and that was after conceding the final putt of the competition to Italy’s Francesco Molinari.

“I had an opportunity to earn three points in the team sessions and I didn’t do that,” said Woods.

“My point there at the end didn’t matter as it was all said and done.

“But it didn’t set in for me for a few days as to what happened in Medinah

“I texted Freddie (Couples) and Steve (Stricker) quite a bit, and like anything it is a tournament lost and you have to move on and focus on the next event.

“We lose far more than we win in this sport and you learn to move on and the next event is this week here in Turkey, and I’ve got a good match-up with Charl (Schwartzel).”

Unlike Woods, McIlroy has been to Turkey before and supporting tennis girlfriend, Caroline Wozinacki for the season-ending WTF finals.

However on this occasion Wozinacki is present to support McIlroy and the Northern Irishman is determined to continue his recent run of success with victory along the Mediterranean shoreline.

“It’s going to be a very exciting week with eight of the best players in the world and the people of Turkey are going to see an event they’ve never seen before,”he said.

“I am still trying to come down from the high of the Ryder Cup but it’s just nice to be here.

“I haven’t touch a club since the Ryder Cup and I’ve just been chilling out with Caroline so I will get to the golf course early tomorrow morning and see if it’s still there.”

In the opening matches on Tuesday McIlroy will play Matt Kuchar, Woods –v- Charl Schwartzel, Hunter Mahan –v- Justin Rose and Lee Westwood –v- Webb Simpson.

McIlroy will then play Schwartzel on Wednesday morning and then face Woods in the afternoon.

McIlroy, Woods. Schwartzel and Kuchar are in Group A and the leading two players go through to Thursday’s semi-final to play the top two players from Group B that include Westwood, Mahan, Rose and Simpson.