Rory McIlroy plays his first event in Europe as World Number One at Wentworth Club this week when he tees up in the BMW PGA Championship - and the Northern Irishman hopes to play a part in the sort of exciting finish witnessed last year.
Lee Westwood came into the event top of the Official World Golf Ranking 12 months ago, but was overhauled by Luke Donald when his compatriot beat him in a play-off.
And McIlroy would love to be battling the World Number Two (Donald) and Three (Westwood) come Sunday afternoon.
“You couldn't have written a better finish for the World Number One and Two to come down the stretch, tie after 72 holes, and play in a play-off,” said the US Open Champion.
“Luke deserved to win because he hit a great shot on to the green to eight feet and held the putt for birdie, so he played the hole great.
“As I said, it was a great finish, and it would be great if I could be part of a finish like that this year.
“I haven't played in Europe since the Alfred Dunhill Links last year, so it's nice to be back.
“It's shaping up to be a great week. There's a great field on a great golf course with a few changes that have been made this year, which I think really have improved the playability of the golf course.
“I think you'll see a few lower scores, which I think is what the fans want to see. And it looks like it's going to be a great week of weather, so we can't really ask for much more than that.”
McIlroy believes that the presence of the Official World Golf Ranking’s top three, as well as 14 Major Champions, underlines the strength of The European Tour.
“The European Tour has definitely gone from strength to strength,” he added.
“I feel like my game is in good shape at the minute. I've just got to go out there and try and hit good shots and hole some putts.”
McIlroy has been coming to watch golf at Wentworth Club since he was a ten year old boy, and another player to have been visitng since a young age is Justin Rose.
The Englishman, already a winner of the WGC-Cadillac Championship this season, is looking forward to competing a course less than 30 miles from where he grew up in Hampshire.
“It's like a homecoming and it's a great event,” he said. “I've been coming here since I was ten years old. Definitely it has got a great feel about it, coming back to the Wentworth Club, and there will be a lot of friends and family out there supporting me this week, so I’m looking forward to it.
“I feel like the game is there or thereabouts and the work I'm doing on the range, it's not really out there trying to search and find your game. It's more maintenance, and it's allowing me to focus more upon things like preparation and strategy. That's when you compete well, really, when your game is focused upon scoring, not trying to get the ball in play off the tee and all that type of stuff. So I feel ready.”
