After, by his own admission, letting a tournament slip through his fingers in Dubai earlier this year, Rory McIlroy is keen to make amends upon his return to the emirate this week.
Dubai remains a special place for the Northern Irishman. At different points, it has provided a home or a regular training base. The launchpad, too, to a four-time major winner’s career, supplying the scene of his first professional victory, at the Dubai Desert Classic in 2009.
This past January, McIlroy went close to capturing the trophy for a third time – he triumphed in 2015 as well – but spurned a two-shot lead with eight holes to play on Sunday to eventually lose to China's Li Haotong.
Now back for this week’s DP World Tour Championship, the European Tour's season finale in which he has won twice already, McIlroy is seeking to round off a “B-minus” season on a positive note.
“Dubai has been a great place for me over the years,” he said on Tuesday. “It's basically where I launched my career. Had my first win here. I was a resident in the UAE for four years, so I have a lot of history and a lot of great memories here. So it's good to be back, especially after missing this tournament [through injury] last year.
"I played earlier in the year at the Desert Classic and feel like I let one slip away there. So I guess it would be nice to get one win in Dubai this year and end the year on a high.”
For most, McIlroy's 2018 would represent more than a decent campaign. He has 10 top 10s, finished second in the British Open and played in the final group at the US Masters. In fact, he formed part of Sunday final pairings six times this season, but as of yet has a solitary victory to show for it, at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in March.
So a B-minus it is, then. Although, lifting a third trophy at Jumeirah Golf Estates would just about improve that overall grade.
“I don't know. I'd maybe give it a B-minus, and a win this week would get it up to a B,” said McIlroy, a former world No 1 who sits seventh in the standings. “From where I started 2018 to where I finish, it is a step in the right direction.
"Coming off an injury last year I missed this tournament. I was rehabbing. I dropped outside the top 10 in the world.
"I have got myself back inside there and I’ve spent most of the year inside the top five in the world, and it’s just a journey back to where I want to be, which is at the top of the game. So, it’s step in the right direction.
"There were a couple of missteps along the way, but then a good off-season – I am working on a few things – and hopefully I can rectify that next year.”
Primarily, getting over the line when in place to win.
Thankfully, McIlroy has been in that position plenty on the Earth Course. In 2012, he birdied the final five holes, memorably, to win the tournament and confirm the Race to Dubai title, while three years later he went head-to-head down the stretch with Andy Sullivan, coming out on top thanks in large part to an incredible bogey-save on the penultimate green.
“Two great memories," McIlroy said. "Hopefully I can create some more this week."
For that, McIlroy understands he needs to drive the ball well, normally his greatest weapon. His campaign has been blighted somewhat by his struggles off the tee, and so he has a new driver in the bag this week to help his quest for silverware.
It worked well in Sun City last week en route to a tied-21st, he said, and in Tuesday’s Pro-Am, so that offers some encouragement for Thursday’s big tee-off.
“The driver is a huge club around here,” McIlroy said. “And if you hit it pretty accurately, you're going to have a big advantage over the rest of the field.”
And then, come Sunday, 2018 is gone and the focus shifts to 2019, aside from two weddings to attend next month. In a departure from his typical schedule, McIlroy will miss January's events at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship presented by EGA and then in Dubai; in actuality, after the DP World Tour Championship, he will play once in 13 weeks.
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Read more:
Tommy Fleetwood aims to hunt down friend Francesco Molinari to retain Race to Dubai crown
Rafa Cabrera Bello targets more success in Dubai at the DP World Tour Championship
Race to Dubai: All you need to know about 2018 DP World Tour Championship
R2D top 5: Justin Rose back in contention after Turkish Airlines Open win
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“The way the schedule has worked for next year, it is going to be different for a lot of guys," McIlroy said, in reference to the revised calendar highlighted by the US PGA Championship’s bump up to May and the BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour’s flagship event, being pushed back to September.
“Everything is going to be so condensed between March and August, and that’s why I'm taking a big off-season to get myself ready, to have that break to then go at it hard from March all the way through to basically the end of the season."
Asked if that means remaining a member of both the European and PGA Tour - a regulation implemented this year states failure to retain membership (minimum four regular European Tour events) prevents a player from being Ryder Cup captain in future - McIlroy added: "I don't know. Right now I've got two events on my schedule in Europe and I don't have to commit to that until next year.
"I'm starting my year off in the States [Tournament of Champions] and that will be the big focus of mine up until the end of August and then we will assess from there.
“I guess my thing is that I want to play against the strongest fields week-in and week-out, and for the most part of the season that is in America. If I want to continue to contend in the majors, and to continue my journey back towards the top of the game, then that’s what I want to do.
“But yep, right now that is all sort of up in the air."
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPros%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEasy%20to%20use%20and%20require%20less%20rigorous%20credit%20checks%20than%20traditional%20credit%20options%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOffers%20the%20ability%20to%20spread%20the%20cost%20of%20purchases%20over%20time%2C%20often%20interest-free%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EConvenient%20and%20can%20be%20integrated%20directly%20into%20the%20checkout%20process%2C%20useful%20for%20online%20shopping%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHelps%20facilitate%20cash%20flow%20planning%20when%20used%20wisely%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECons%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20ease%20of%20making%20purchases%20can%20lead%20to%20overspending%20and%20accumulation%20of%20debt%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMissing%20payments%20can%20result%20in%20hefty%20fees%20and%2C%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20high%20interest%20rates%20after%20an%20initial%20interest-free%20period%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFailure%20to%20make%20payments%20can%20impact%20credit%20score%20negatively%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERefunds%20can%20be%20complicated%20and%20delayed%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ECourtesy%3A%20Carol%20Glynn%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
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Yahya Al Ghassani's bio
Date of birth: April 18, 1998
Playing position: Winger
Clubs: 2015-2017 – Al Ahli Dubai; March-June 2018 – Paris FC; August – Al Wahda
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Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
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VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces
- Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
- Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
- Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
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Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
