Rory McIlroy is confident of mounting another serious title challenge when the Omega Dubai Desert Classic begins on Thursday.
The Northern Irishman has finished in the top ten every time he has teed up at Emirates Golf Club since claiming his maiden European Tour title at the venue in 2009.
And with the 25th Dubai Desert Classic rounding off The European Tour’s Desert Swing, McIlroy is keen to kick-off 2014 with a victory, having finished tied for second in Abu Dhabi a fortnight ago.
“The Dubai Desert Classic has always been a tournament that I've liked to come and play,” said the two-time Major winner. “I played twice as an amateur here in '06 and '07, so the tournament were very good to me giving me those invites, and it was fitting in a way that I won my first tournament here as a pro in '09.
“Obviously whenever you come back to a place where you've got a win like that, you're going to have special memories and fond memories.
“It's great to be back, and the course is in great shape, as it always is. It's shaping up to be a great week, 25th anniversary, getting all the past champions, bar Seve, obviously, yesterday. A good way to kick off the week, and obviously a strong field, as well.
“I'm playing well. I played well in Abu Dhabi, feel like my game has come on a little bit since then, as well, with the wedge play and stuff. I feel good driving the ball well, which is a big key for me, so hopefully I can keep that up.
“It's always good to get a win early on in the season, and it would be nice to be up there at least and challenging for the trophy on Sunday.”
The 24 year old has dropped from the top of the Official World Golf Ranking to sixth after some indifferent form last year, but feels he is close to his best form now.
Victory at the Emirates Australian Open and five top-ten finishes in his last seven starts would appear to back that claim, and McIlroy feels that victory, where he battled Adam Scott down the stretch, was important for his confidence.
“It was really important,” he added. “I felt like I had been playing well up until that point. I was showing some good form, played well in China, played well in Korea, played well in Dubai, but just didn't quite get the win.
“I didn't think a win was necessary because I felt like my game was coming back into the shape that I wanted it to, but getting the win down there was very nice, very satisfying. It was great to end the year with a win.
“It was still a good win down there, battling Scottie for the weekend - I was proud of that. It was good to get the win and build some momentum into that year and feel like I've carried it through.
“I had a great off season, practised, played a lot, didn't really take too much time off. It feels good.
“For the last few months of 2013, it was all about just trying to build some momentum going into this year, and I feel like I've done that.”
