GOLF: McIlroy is right at home in Dubai
WORLD number nine Rory McIlroy has targeted a major victory within four years.
Twelve months ago the Holywood native was just 19 years and 273 days when he landed his first European Tour title by winning the Dubai Desert Classic at the Emirates Golf Club.
Since then McIlroy has collected 11 top-10 finishes, including eight in his last nine events, and finished second to Lee Westwood in the 2009 Race to Dubai.
"I am gaining experience every year and by the time I'm 24, 25 I will have played in 20, 25 majors ... so hopefully by then I should know how to finish them off," said Rory yesterday ahead of Thursday's opening round in Dubai.
"That's the ultimate goal ... to win a major championship and try and become the best player I can be."
McIlroy, who yesterday signed a new three-yeal deal with luxury hotel company Jumeirah Group, said he had learnt a great deal since making his Dubai breakthrough.
"I've gained a lot of experience since I won here last year and I've put myself in a lot of great positions to win golf tournaments," he said.
"I haven't quite finished them off but I've learnt from those experiences and feel as if I'm a more-rounded player. I feel when I get myself into those positions now that I feel a lot more comfortable in final rounds and final groups."
In his first start of 2010 Rory finished third behind Martin Kaymer and Ian Poulter in Abu Dhabi but he is hoping for better luck on the "familiar" greens at the Emirates Club.
"The thing about this tournament is that it's become very familiar to me. I think this is my fifth Desert Classic," he said.
"This is the event I've played most on the European Tour. I think that's why I've become so comfortable here and as the tournament goes, I feel very comfortable on the golf course because I've got to know it so well over the past few years.
"I'm just trying to win a tournament again, obviously there are great memories from last year, but I feel very, very comfortable here on this course and at this tournament. I feel as if I've got all of the shots I need around this golf course and it's a course on which I can shoot a really good score."
Rory, who also called on the golfing authorities to reconsider their new regulations on the shape of grooves in club heads, burst on to the scene in the 2007 British Open at Carnoustie where he finished as leading amateur. Since then his best display in a major was a share of third place in last year's U.S. PGA Championship.
"When I look back on the last 12 months it has been very satisfactory," he said.
"It was a year when everything was new to me.
"The majors were new and the World Golf Championships were new and I felt as if I handled it pretty well. I've gained a lot of experience in them and I feel the experience will help me a lot this year and hopefully I'll perform even better in them."
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
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