Rickie Fowler wants to use the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as a springboard to a successful 2017 as he returns to defend his title in the first event of the Desert Swing.
The American enjoyed an excellent start to 2016, with his win at Abu Dhabi Golf Club sending him to a career-high fourth in the Official World Golf Ranking before he narrowly lost a play-off to Hideki Matsuyama at the Waste Management Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour just two weeks later.
That was as good as it got on an individual level for the 28 year old, however, and he enters this week 14th in the Rankings and admitting he wants to do better in 2017.
"It's definitely nice to be back," he said. "I had a few good tournaments after this last year but individually I didn't play as well as I would have liked to.
"It was definitely nice to get the win here to kick off the year. It would have been nice to kind of continue that form."
While 2016 may not have been the best year of his career, Fowler still enjoyed some great success representing the United States: winning the Ryder Cup, finishing in a tie for second at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf and playing in the Olympic Men's Golf Competition.
The two-time European Tour winner is now looking to take those positives into the new season, with his sights set firmly on the Major Championships.
"2016 was still a great year," he said. "Getting to play in the Olympics to the World Cup and finally being part of a winning Ryder Cup Team. Europeans have been able to enjoy that. So it was nice to have that time to celebrate with the boys.
"I'm excited to be back. Definitely some great memories here and looking forward to making some more.
"The last couple of years, the Majors have been kind of the number one point to look at, especially after 2015, having the good finishes there. So the Majors, for me, that's probably the number one goal.
I'm exblockquoted to be back. Definitely some great memories here and looking forward to making some more - Rickie Fowler
"Winning is what I want to do, win tournaments around the world but the Majors are number one."
World Number Two Rory McIlroy has been forced to withdraw from this week's event due to a rib injury but Fowler does not believe that will make his task any easier, with an elite field assembled in the UAE.
"I love playing against him," he said. "We've had a lot of good battles and good times together. Hopefully he's not out long and able to get back and he's obviously playing well. He played well last week.
"Does that make me look at the tournament any differently? No. You know, it's one less top player in the world I'm going to have to beat but the field here is one of the best fields on the European Tour and still has a lot of the top players in the world, three of the Major champions from last year are here.
"It's not going to be any easier to win."
