Tournament officials of the Dubai Desert Classic will have a few special guests to help celebrate the 25th anniversary.

It was confirmed Wednesday that both Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy will play in the Jan. 30-Feb. 2 event in 2014.

Woods has won the event twice (2006, ’08), while Dubai was the site of McIlroy’s first professional title, at age 19.

Woods, McIlroy, Mark O’Meara and Jose Maria Olazabal will also compete in the Champions Challenge, an 18-hole exhibition to be played Tuesday of tournament week.

“I appreciate the support I have received from the people in Dubai and I always enjoy playing in their tournament,” Woods, who will be making his seventh appearance in the event, said in a statement.

It was reported in March that Woods was likely to defend his title at Torrey Pines, then play in Dubai. The dates for the Farmers Insurance Open are Jan. 23-26.