World Number One Rory McIlroy is ready to go one better than his three runner-up finishes at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship this week, having just completed the annual ritual of recording his goals for the season on the back of a boarding pass en route to the Middle East.
As he gears up for his first start of 2015, the Northern Irishman admitted to once again jotting down his aims for the year as he travelled for some pre-season practice in Dubai, with the piece of paper in question set to reside securely in his wallet for the next 12 months.
The four-time Major Champion would not divulge exactly what was on the list, but he did admit to never having achieved everything he had set out to at the start of any prior season, regardless of the remarkable achievements so far in his already glittering career.
First on the boarding pass, perhaps, might well be a victory in Abu Dhabi, which has thus far proved elusive, and fresh from a festive break that afforded McIlroy the chance to reflect on last season’s achievements, he is refocussed for 2015.
“Every year I fly here and I do a week or ten days of preparation in Dubai before this tournament, and I write my goals down on the back of my boarding pass, put it in my wallet and memorise them,” said the 25 year old. “Then I don't look at them until the end of the year.
“So in my back pocket, in my wallet, is a boarding pass with my goals for this year. I don't really want to share them with anyone else as they are just my little goals, and I'll try and achieve those and take that boarding pass out at the end of the year and see how well I've done.
“Over the Christmas period I had my first chance to really look back and reflect on the year and even watch a few of the highlights of some of the tournaments that I won. So it was nice to reflect, but I feel 2014 has really set me up for another great year. I feel like I'm coming into this year with a nice little bit of momentum, and my game is feeling good.
“It was nice to have that little break, but it's time to look forward now towards this season and try to accomplish the goals that I set for myself at the start of this year.
“I know they have made a few changes, but it's a golf course I've always felt comfortable on, one that has suited me, and I've played well here in the past. I think this is my eighth year in a row starting the season off here, so I'm pretty familiar with the place and looking forward to another strong start to the season.”
One of the men hoping to once again deny McIlroy a maiden title in Abu Dhabi will be the man who triumphed over him a year ago, as Pablo Larrazábal returns to defend his third European Tour title.
The 31 year old fought off the title advances of a high quality field this time last year, namely the challenge of Messrs McIlroy and Phil Mickelson, who both finished runner-up, one stroke behind the Spaniard.
He is therefore very motivated to replicate his desert heroics, but looking more long term, Larrazábal is also keen to find the kind of consistency that will propel him into the world’s top 50 and contend in the game’s biggest championships – a quest which starts this week.
“It was a tough final day last year, as there was a little wind out there, and I remember making a couple of birdies on the front nine to put myself in with a good chance,” said Larrazábal, who also won the BMW International Open in 2011, three years after a maiden title at the Alstom Open de France.
“Obviously playing alongside Rory and Miguel (Angel Jiménez) helped me too, as I knew that if Rory was playing well he's going to have a chance to win a golf tournament, so to be playing with him I knew I had a chance. I made a great up and down on 12, and a birdie on 13 which gave me a chance to win, and that's what I did.
“I'm not a player that before the season likes to go for goals. I just want to prepare myself to win golf tournaments and to be prepared to fight up there.
“You never know when or how many chances you're going to have to win golf tournaments, but the only thing I know is that I'm going to try my best to prepare myself to fight for those, and if I take one or two, it will be another great season.
“I really want to be in the top 50 in the world, I want to play in the World Golf Championships and I want to play in the Majors.”
To celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship, alongside the World Number One and the defending champion, will be a further three members of the top ten on the global list – namely Henrik Stenson in second, the sixth placed Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler at tenth, as the American prepares to renew his friendly rivalry with McIlroy this week.
