After a four-month break from competition, Rory McIlroy has declared himself fit and ready to embark on one of the busiest seasons of his professional career as he bids to finally banish the injuries which effectively ruined his 2017 season and get back to the very top of golf’s world order.
That quest begins on Thursday in the company of Dustin Johnson and defending champion Tommy Fleetwood at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
McIlroy has starred at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club nine times in his 11-year career and boasts an impressive record of seven top-five finishes. He has yet to win on his opening start of the season, but is confident mood of going one better in Abu Dhabi than his four runner-up finishes in the last seven years.
“I’ve worked hard on my short-game, and I’m probably feeling better with the putter than I ever have,” McIlroy said. “I had a lot of time to work with Phil [Kenyon] and that’s the point – I’ve had a lot of time to concentrate on everything and it all feels very good and a long way down the road. It’s like this new TaylorMade driver [the M3] that everyone is raving about. Well, I’ve had been using this thing since November and the other guys have only been using it for a few weeks. I’ve had the time to try out all this stuff and the way I’m hitting it and the way I’m feeling, I’m excited.”
After Abu Dhabi, McIlroy has committed to next week’s Dubai Desert Classic before focusing on the PGA Tour and his build-up for the Masters. He will miss the WGC Mexico Championship, but will tee it up in six other events prior to Augusta – where for the fourth year running he will attempt to complete the career grand slam – with eight tournaments already under his belt.
After last year’s setback at the beginning of the season – which saw him fracture his rib before his first start – McIlroy is set to play one of the busiest schedules since 2008, and his season’s tally may well reach 30 tournaments if al goes to plan. Among the events he has already committed to later inhte season is the British Masters, which is being held at Walton Heath Golf Club in Surrey in October and hosted by his Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose.
McIlroy’s presence at last year’s event at Close House led to record crowds as he finished second to fellow Irishman Paul Dunne, and despite the tournament coming towards the end of a hectic schedule, the four-time major winner is ready to appear again.
It will a big boost for golf fans in the UK who could get to see McIlroy in as many as five different tournaments in 2018. “I might play more times this year than any before,” McIlroy said. “I played 28 times in 2008, and I’m on track to beat that. I definitely want to play at Walton Heath. It’s a great course and we can stay in London. I could get to 30, depending on where I’m placed in the Race To Dubai. But I’ll see.”