Rock star status

The 34-year-old Englishman was expected to buckle after being paired with the 14-time major winner in the final group but rose to the occasion by shooting a two-under 70 to lift the trophy while Woods carded a 72 to finish third.

Rock admitted that he'd been nervous going into his head-to-head with Woods but after coming through with flying colours he feels that nothing will now faze him .

"Certain occasions during my career, I've played with people that have really made me nervous and that was probably the most," he said of his pairing with Woods. "I played with Nick Faldo who was a hero and so was Seve (Ballesteros).

"I'd love to play with him again. He was great company."
Rock on Tiger Woods Quotes of the week

"After you do that, you are not scared of any groups you get."

The victory has given Rock a new-found status on the European Tour and that's evident in this week's Dubai Desert Classic where he's been paired with US Open champion Rory McIlroy and defending champion Alvaro Quiros in Thursday's opening round.

"I'm up against two great players in that group," Rock said. "The whole field is full of potential winners. The European Tour is very, very strong. I think my victory in Abu Dhabi proved that to some extent, that somebody down the lower ends of the world rankings can win a tournament."

Doesn't get much better

Looking back to his Abu Dhabi triumph - only his second European Tour win - Rock said: "It doesn't get much better than that for me."

"To make it better, it would need to be the same sort of scenario in a major championship. The chances of actually getting the pairings right for that are slim ... I think I will have a chance to win other tournaments but that one will definitely be a lasting memory."

Rock dismissed critics who have suggested Woods can be rude on the golf course and said Tiger repeatedly complimented him on his shots and put up with a packed gallery in Abu Dhabi.

"As far as golfing etiquette, it couldn't be better. It's a bit unfair when people criticise him," he said. "There are a lot of distractions for him when he is playing, people talking, people using their phones, people taking pictures when they shouldn't.

"That was frustrating for me when I was hitting shots. I lost my temper a few times when that happened and he doesn't do that. He ignores it and just carries on."

"I'd love to play with him again. He was great company."

Rock, who has just secured a lucrative endorsement by signing on as the golfing ambassador for the opulent Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi, has played in this event three times before and finished tied 20th on both his last two appearances.