After another remarkable week in his already glittering career, Rory McIlroy returns to the event that helped pave the way for his success at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship this week.
The World Number One played a key role in Europe’s 16 ½ - 11 ½ Ryder Cup victory at Gleneagles, picking up three points from five matches including a ruthless 5 and 4 victory over Rickie Fowler in the singles.
That capped a remarkable season that has seen the Northern Irishman double his Major Championships tally to four with victory at The Open and the US PGA Championship, win his first World Golf Championships and be named US PGA Tour player of the year.
“Obviously with everything that went on last week, I probably couldn't have picked a better week to play after The Ryder Cup,” said McIlroy.
“We play on three of my favourite golf courses in the world and to be able to walk around with my dad and my best friend, as well, who is on the bag this week. It's a nice way to try and come down after really what as such an incredible week last week.
“I’m looking forward to it, and obviously still on a bit of a high from The Ryder Cup but looking forward to get to go play some golf with my dad and hopefully continue the good golf that I have played over the past few months, and have another chance to win a tournament here.
“Back in 2007, this was the tournament that I got my European Tour card, and it was a life changing week for me, a young 18 year old, just starting out in his professional career. I finished third that week, and that basically earned me enough money to get my European Tour card for the next season.
“I've always been very grateful to this tournament and very grateful to Johan Rupert for extending me an invitation to play that year and allowing me to go on and achieve what I did and get my European Tour card.
“I've always been very loyal to this tournament and it's one that I've always enjoyed, and as I said before, it's a pleasure to be able to come back here and play a few rounds with my dad and really enjoy the week.
“It's a tournament that I have played well at here at the Dunhill, but I've never quite been able to win. I finished third, as I said, that year in 2007, finished second in 2009 and finished second again in 2011. I think it would be nice, especially it's my dad's 55th birthday on Sunday, so hopefully we can make the team event and be able to walk around St. Andrews on his birthday and me have a chance to win the tournament, as well, would be something that would be very special.”
McIlroy was announced as US PGA Tour player of the year during the final practice round over the pro-am event played at St Andrews, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie, having not finished outside the top 25 in any of his events Stateside in 2014.
The 25 year old had already claimed the Arnold Palmer Award as the leading official money winner (£5.1million) and won the Byron Nelson Award for adjusted scoring average (68.83).
"It means a lot to win it for the second time in three years," McIlroy said. "Being voted player of the year by your peers is something that's very important.
"They are the guys you are trying to beat week in, week out and if they appreciate what you have done over the year, see the hard work that you've put in and the golf that you've played and think that's been the best of the season that means a lot to me.
"I would like to win a lot more in my career and even though the last year wasn't what I wanted, the last three or four years have been very, very good and it gives me even more motivation to go on and work harder and try to win more tournaments, more majors and be involved in more Ryder Cups like last week."
US PGA Tour members who played in at least 15 official money events were eligible to vote for the award and that of rookie of the year, which went to American Chesson Hadley.
Hadley, 27, won the Puerto Rico Open and was the only rookie to advance to the BMW Championship, the third of the four FedEx Cup play-off events.
