DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC PREVIEW – Golf News

Rory McIlroy is eager to proceed his “unbelievable journey” in Dubai by profitable a record-breaking fourth title on the Hero Dubai Desert Basic.

The world no.2 claimed a maiden Rolex Sequence triumph at this occasion 12 months in the past, matching Ernie Els’ document of three victories at Emirates Golf Membership. That took the Northern Irishman’s tally of wins within the Emirate to 5, having made his debut at this occasion in 2006 and claimed his first victory three years later. The 34-year-old additionally has two wins on the DP World Tour Championship and solely narrowly missed out on a victory eventually week’s Dubai Invitational.

With that document, it’s no shock the previous Dubai resident feels proper at house, and he’s delighted to be again in a spot and on a structure that has performed an enormous half in his profession. McIlroy adopted his win right here final season with one other Rolex collection victory on the Genesis Scottish Open, including to his 4 Main Championships, three World Golf Championships and 6 nationwide opens.

Talking forward of the occasion, which will get underneath manner on Thursday, McIlroy mentioned: “I really feel like this match has been a type of staple in my life for at the very least half of it. I’ve been coming again to this match for 18 years, so over half my life. So great recollections of Dubai. I really feel prefer it was a spot that gave me considered one of my first alternatives to come back out and play on this tour. My first sponsor was from right here. My first win was right here. Quite a lot of firsts for me on this area, so it’s been an unbelievable journey and I’m all the time excited to get again to Dubai with the success that I’ve had right here on this golf course and over at Jumeirah Golf Estates too on the finish of the yr. I’ve all the time appreciated kicking my yr off right here. It’s a well-recognized place for me and I really feel like if I can play properly right here, it’s a extremely good type of stepping stone to the remainder of the yr.”

“I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE QUITE EXCITED FOR THIS WEEK”

He added: “I really feel like I’ve had a three-month low season, mainly. You’re going to make a few of these errors early on, and it’s good to play an occasion like final week [The Dubai Inviational] the place you’ll be able to study from them and attempt to put these issues proper this week. I might have cherished to have gained final week, however even with all these errors I made, the truth that I nonetheless had a one-shot lead taking place the final says to me that my sport is in actually good condition, and I needs to be fairly excited for this week.

“Majors are actually, actually vital on this sport, but it surely’s not the one factor that issues in my thoughts. I might like to get my palms on one other one, and I believe principally as a result of I’ve achieved every thing else there may be to do within the sport since I final gained a Main championship. So to me, it’s just like the final step on this journey that I’ve been on this previous few years is simply getting my palms on one other Main trophy.”

European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald, reigning Open Champion Brian Harman and Main Champions Padráig Harrington, Francesco Molinari and Adam Scott all be part of McIlroy within the thirty fifth anniversary version of the match. Scott had a top-ten end in 2022 on his first return to this occasion since 2002, whereas American Harman is worked up for a troublesome check of golf when he makes his Dubai debut tomorrow morning alongside Adrian Meronk and Dan Bradbury.

For the checklist of tee instances for rounds 1 and a couple of, click on right here.