Rory McIlroy: ‘I hope this is my year in Abu Dhabi’

Dubai: After finishing the last season on a high, world No. 1 Rory McIlory is looking to continue from where he had left off in 2014. The best way, according to him, is to put himself in a position from where he can claim the elusive Abu Dhabi HSBC Championships — scheduled at the National course in the capital from January 15-18.

“I hope that this year is my year as it really would be special to win the 10th anniversary tournament,” the European Tour’s Player of the Year last season told Gulf News in an email interview. “Having finished second a few times now, I feel like I have a great chance. The National course suits me, I always look forward to playing the tournament and I feel very at home in the UAE. All I can do is aim to put myself in position come Sunday afternoon to be in with a chance to win again,” said McIlory.

The winner of Race to Dubai last season, McIlory has always seemed to enjoy a special chemistry with the ‘Desert Swing’ — having picked up his first Tour title as a rookie with the Dubai Desert Classic in 2009. Asked about it, a candid McIlory said: “I really enjoy playing in the UAE and always have done since I turned professional. It’s also where I do all my preseason practice.

“I just feel very at home in the Middle East — the weather, world-class golf courses and facilities. I am made so welcome and really looked after whenever I play here. It is a great place to play golf in my opinion and that shows in my results,” he said.

Asked to explain the defining factors behind the incredible turnaround of fortunes in 2014, McIlory summed it up: “I put

in a lot of work and just believed in myself that things would come right on the course. For myself and my team, the improved form was a coming together of some necessary tweaks I made to my game towards the end of 2013.

“I then began to feel good about my game, so I knew it was only a matter of time before the results started to show this. I do feel very fortunate to have the season I’ve had though and give a lot of credit to all my team for all the hard work they put in to help me achieve all I did.”

Looking ahead at the new season, McIlory had recently gone on record saying he may cut down a few tournaments from the 25 he played last year. Explaining the rationale behind such a move, he mused: “Every year, I learn things about myself and how to schedule myself to get the best out of my game. It not so much the number of tournaments but the necessary, important breaks between them. Like anyone, I simply don’t play well when I am too tired or play too many weeks in succession.

I need to feel fresh and raring to go to give myself the best opportunity to win. I take that into consideration when I’m working out my year’s schedule and ensure I have enough time to work on my game and fitness.”

For someone who has scaled virtually all peaks at only 25 years of age, the winner’s green jacket at the Augusta Masters has continued to elude him still. McIlroy wants to give it another wholehearted shot this year, though he knows time is on his side and it will come sooner than later. “Augusta is a very special place and the one I would love to win, regardless of the career grand slam or not. It will be a big week for me, like all the Majors are, and I will give it my best shot without putting undue pressure on myself. I’ve got plenty of years ahead of me to try and win that green jacket,” he said.

The 2014 calendar, apart from the resurgence in his Tour fortunes, also saw McIlory being a part of the European side in retaining the Ryder Cup in one of the most one-sided contests in recent times. How easy or difficult does he find it to thrive in a team situation like that? “I completely throw myself into the team spirit. It really is a fantastic event and a fully charged team environment. I just embrace everything that goes with the Ryder Cup.

“We don’t often play as part of a team but this is something special — I’m out on the course cheering on guys I try to beat every week on Tour! I really thrive in that amazing atmosphere and take as much pleasure from Europe winning as I have from any of my Major wins,” he said.

Looking at the bigger picture, where does McIlroy the golfer feel headed in a few years’ time? “I feel very lucky to be in the position I am, playing the game I love. I really don’t like to put a figure on how many times I can win. I’m just looking to the year ahead, trying to win when possible and retain my spot as the world’s No. 1.

“I certainly hope to win more Majors during my career — who doesn’t? — but I’m aiming for a long career, and one where I’d like to highlight and broaden the game’s appeal as widely as possible,” he added.

* The article was originally published in Gulf News, Dubai.