Rory McIlroy is looking to end his home hoodoo at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open Hosted by the Rory Foundation this week as he aims to win a first European Tour title on Irish soil.
The Northern Irishman has 12 wins to his name but has struggled in recent years at his home Open, missing the cut for the last three seasons, although he arrives at the K Club with five top tens from as many events this campaign.
The three-time Race to Dubai winner's best finish in this event came back in 2008 when he finished seventh, and he is desperate to have a successful week on home soil in the tournament he is hosting.
"The Irish Open, it always was, but even more so now, it's become one of the most important weeks of the year for me," he said.
"Obviously for a couple of different reasons. We're here to try and raise as much money as we possibly can for three local charities in the Dublin area, but also it's a tournament that I desperately would love to win one day.
"My performances in this event haven't been to what I would obviously want. I want to really change that this week with a good performance and I feel like my game is in good enough shape to do that.
"I'm coming off a couple of decent weeks in the States where I felt like I played better than what the results suggested, so I'm looking forward to the week. The K Club here is a golf course where I feel like I can do well on. It sets up well for me.
I think anyone who plays professional golf dreams of winning their home Open - Rory McIlroy
"Whether it's an American dreaming of winning the US Open or a German or a Spaniard or whatever. Winning your home open in front of your home crowd, your home fans, you don't get very many opportunities to do it, so it would be very special.
"Being able to do it in front of everyone that has supported me all throughout the years. It's definitely one tournament that is missing from my CV that I would love to add."
The four-time Major Championship winner admits he does not know a great deal about the layout at the K Club but will not be making any excuses in his hunt for a first European Tour title of the season.
"I haven't played it much at all," he said. "I played 18 holes here back when I was about 18, I think just after I turned pro. And then I played the back nine yesterday and that's it. I've played 27 holes on this golf course. I'll obviously play 18 later on in the Pro-Am, but I don't really know it that well.
"I came here as a spectator in 2006 to watch the singles of the Ryder Cup and had a great day but I don't really know the golf course that well. Hopefully I can get a good feel for it today and be ready to go tomorrow.
"Once the tournament starts, I really don't have many other commitments, so I'm trying to really focus on the tournament when we get going.
"I learned a lot from last year and know that if I want to play well this week, which is the main objective, I have to really focus on the event for when we get started."
