Jon Rahm may not be in a position to win it all at this week's DP World Tour Championship but the Spaniard is relishing the chance to make more history in Dubai.
He arrives at Jumeirah Golf Estates as the defending champion, having lifted the trophy for a record-breaking third time 12 months ago in just his fourth appearance at the event to move ahead of Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson and Matt Fitzpatrick.
He is also searching for a record-extending sixth Rolex Series victory, although two-time runner-up Tyrrell Hatton could match his tally with a victory of his own this week.
One thing Rahm will not be doing on Sunday is taking home the Harry Vardon Trophy, with McIlroy having already sewn up the 2023 Race to Dubai title, but the two-time Major Champion remains just as focused on claiming victory over a happy hunting ground.
"It's been a date that I always look forward to," he said. "I've always had a lot of fun in the city. I've been treated really well and the golf has always luckily been very great as well.
"It's something I look forward to and to me it's a great way to end the year. One last competition before we get to the holiday season. Kind of get our mind off golf for a little bit and it's a favourite way to end and hopefully I can win it one more time.
"It's obviously a ball-striker's golf course. You have certain shots off the tee that you can take advantage of and you can be way more aggressive into some of those greens, which some of those pins are not the easiest to attack.
"But that's true to pretty much any golf course. The guy who hits it straight all week has a really good chance.
"I couldn't really pinpoint one thing why I've had success here. I'm sure the number people can tell you why statistically I'm better, but I think I just happened to play really good on the weeks that I'm here."
If Rahm is to prevail once again, he will have to overcome a stellar field, with all of the top 50 on the 2023 Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex teeing it up on the Earth course.
The 29-year-old may still fancy his chances, having never finished outside the top five at this event, but he is delighted to be taking on the DP World Tour's very best.
"It says a lot about the tournament," he said. "Again, it's a fantastic week to come to. It's something that I think we all absolutely enjoy. It's a great city to be at. You know, it's easy to get to Dubai. It's just not quick to get to Dubai. That tells you how much we all enjoy that.
"It's a great statement. It's great for the DP World Tour to see all of us showing our support in that sense."
Once this week is over, Rahm's thoughts will turn to 2024 as he looks to defend his Masters title, with plenty more also to play for including the Olympic Men's Golf Competition.
Le Golf National - venue for Rahm's victorious Ryder Cup debut in 2018 - will play host and the World Number Three could be interested in taking on the venue representing his country.
"Golf course-wise, I think it's one of the better golf courses I've played in my career," he said.
"The French Open is certainly an extremely difficult tournament to win and to become a champion there is something special. I was close to being able to do it. I didn't play my best down the stretch. I'm always going to regret that.
"The Ryder Cup was absolutely fantastic and I was able to play in the European Masters when I was 14, 15 years old. So I've had quite a bit of experience and always enjoyed it thoroughly, both as an amateur and as a professional. It's a very enjoyable golf course, very, very difficult.
"The Olympics, I believe right now that they don't have the magnitude they will have maybe in the future. But at the same time, in the world of sports, maybe in golf and tennis becoming a Major Champion might mean more than having a Gold Medal.
"But maybe (that is) because we didn't grow up with that being a possibility. But in the world of sports, very few things can compare to that.
So I think it's something in my career, it would be an honour to maybe contribute to the medal count for my country. I think it's quite special."
