Rory McIlroy is looking forward to a successful 2016 after ending an injury-hit year on a high with a win at the DP World Tour Championship which secured him a third Race to Dubai title in four years.
The 26-year-old Northern Irishman went into this year with a healthy lead at the top of the world rankings after he won the Open Championship and PGA Championship in a glittering 2014.
But an ankle injury he suffered while playing football ruled him out of three tournaments in the summer, including the defence of his Open crown at St Andrews.
McIlroy also required a controversial exemption to compete in the European Tour’s season finale after not playing enough events.
In that time Jason Day and current number one Jordan Spieth have pushed him down to third in the rankings, while his putting appeared to be out of sorts on his return to action.
However McIlroy was on top of his game on Sunday with eight birdies in his opening 15 holes enough to hold off the challenge of Englishman Andy Sullivan to win the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai by one shot courtesy of a six-under-par final round of 66 to leave him on 21 under.
The victory has left him bubbling with confidence and looking to challenge for the top honours when he returns to action in the New Year.
McIlroy said: “I couldn’t think of a better way to finish the season, so I’m really happy going into the Christmas break and looking forward to what’s in store for 2016.
“The only thing that’s been holding me back over the past few weeks was my putting. My ball-striking is right where I want it to be.
“All aspects of my game are in good shape now. If my game is in this shape going into next year, I’d be very happy and feel I could do very well.”
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