DP World Tour : Hero Dubai Desert Classic Tee Times Leaderboard
Rory McIlroy revealed his focus for the 2026 DP World Tour campaign as he targets his fifth Rolex Series title at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
The World Number Two became the sixth male player to achieve the career Grand Slam with his victory at the Masters last April during a year to remember for the 36-year-old.
He went on to win his second Amgen Irish Open crown of his career in September before helping Team Europe retain the Ryder Cup with victory at a raucous Bethpage Black in New York later that month.
McIlroy completed a stellar season by lifting his seventh Harry Vardon trophy, which confirmed his ranking as Europe’s Number One.
After a momentous year, McIlroy insisted he would not rest on his laurels and would bring enthusiasm to every event he tees up at, including at Emirates Golf Club.
"I think it's bringing that attitude and knowing my limitations and knowing, okay, this is somewhere I want to play," the Northern Irishman said.
"I've always said the results will take care of themselves if you do the other things right, and I think this year my focus is just doing the other things right. Then I feel like I'm a good enough golfer that then the results will take care of themselves."
He added: "I think I need to show up at tournaments with enthusiasm every single time.
"So playing in the places that I want to play, playing the tournaments I want to play. Not feeling like I'm at a tournament because I'm obligated or have to be there, but because I want to be there.
"And I said this last week, but finding joy in the process. I've been coming here for 20 years.
"You just think about the amount of balls that I've hit and the amount of time I've spent on the range on my own. That starts to get tedious 20 years into a career.
"So it's like trying to find the joy in that. What I really found joy in I feel like at home is playing golf.
"I definitely spend more time on the golf course than on the practice range nowadays, and that's something I've started to really, really enjoy."
McIlroy continued his love affair with the Middle East during last week's Dubai Invitational.
He finished two shots behind winner Nacho Elvira for a share of third, which extended his extraordinary record in the United Arab Emirates to seven victories, eight runner-up finishes and 37 top-tens
This week also marks 20 years since making his bow at Emirates Golf Club as a 16-year-old amateur, as McIlroy sets his sights on a record-extending fifth Dallah Trophy.
"I love Dubai. It holds so many great memories for me, first of which was coming here as a 16-year-old, and playing in the Dubai Desert Classic for the first time as an amateur, and I played twice as an amateur," the 36-year-old said.
"In 2007, I made the cut, and that got me to world number one in the amateur rankings, and two years later, I won my first professional event here.
"So it's a lot of great memories. I've met a lot of great people along the way.
"Honestly, I've always felt like it was a perfect place to start the year."
europeantour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
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