McIlroy's major plans

By Andrew Mullen, Press Association Sport Last updated: 2nd February 2010

Rory McIlroy comes of age this week in Dubai as the cool-headed Northern Irishman returns to the scene of his maiden professional title following a whirlwind 12 months.

At Emirates Golf Club last year the fresh faced 19-year-old survived a final round wobble to complete a wire-to-wire victory after edging out Justin Rose by a single shot to win his first title after turning professional just over 16 months earlier.

By winning in Dubai at the age of 19 and 273 days, he became the eighth youngest winner in European Tour history and youngest since Sergio Garcia triumphed in Germany a decade earlier.

The world number nine may not have won since, a fact he admits is becoming increasingly frustrating, but the Holywood ace has certainly made his mark while trying.

And you do have to remind yourself, and others who may raise an eyebrow over his lack of further victories, that McIlroy is only 20.

McIlroy did not play in Qatar last week but equalled his position in the world rankings after moving back into the top 10 despite a third place finish at his opening event of the season in Abu Dhabi.

McIlroy was the youngest player in history to make it into the world's top 50 and at the end of the 2008 season was only the second 20-year-old behind Garcia to feature in the top 10.

He heads to Emirates Golf Club, which is in sight of principle sponsor Jumeirah's iconic Burj Al Arab, this week with top four finishes in his last four outings stretching back to November's WGC-HSBC Champions.

After extending his links with Jumeirah for another three years this week, McIlroy could be the first player in the Dubai Desert Classic's history to make a successful title defence, while at 20 and 279 days he would become the youngest player to successfully retain a European Tour event.

Although in the 20 previous editions of the Dubai Desert Classic there have been 17 different winners with only Ernie Els and Tiger Woods boasting multiple triumphs.

After competing in Dubai, McIlroy heads to America after opting to take up the offer an US PGA Tour card which is a sign of his ambition and desire to put himself up alongside the world's best on a regular basis.

This certainly does not detract from the quality available on his home tour in Europe, but despite boasting only that one professional victory, the majors are the events his career will now be geared towards with April's Masters at Augusta the first on the more US-based agenda for this season.

A Ryder Cup debut in October is also virtually guaranteed despite McIlroy referring to the event as an "exhibition" at last year's Irish Open - comments which he continually distanced himself from last year.

Whenever Europe captain Colin Montgomerie is questioned about the Ryder Cup McIlroy's name tends to come up and the Scot, like most, can only envisage a debut appearance being made in Wales in the strongest team ever assembled by Europe.

And in order to ensure his continued success McIlroy is currently having a practice area installed in the grounds of his house, which will include a chipping and putting green, driving range and three par threes of varying difficulty and length.

He will also have an indoor studio installed which will allow him to scrutinise footage of his game similar to a set-up used by Padraig Harrington.

Andrew Mullen, Press Association Sport