DP World Tour Championship 2013: Rory McIlroy hopes defence of Dubai title can spur a return to No 1 spot

Rory McIlroy's game is beginning to improve as an 'interesting year' of worries for the Ulsterman draws to a close.

At the end of the year in which regular trips to the winner’s enclosures were suddenly swapped with frequent visits to the lawyers’ offices, Rory McIlroy bemoaned the off-course distractions which did so much to cause what could turn out to be a record fall in the rankings. The Ulsterman is still involved in two multi-million dollar court cases; McIlroy versus Horizon Sports Management in Ireland, Oakley versus McIlroy in the United States. The respective lawsuits have been rumbling all year and as the details emerge the picture forms of a young superstar which so much more on his mind that his profession. When he should have been thinking fades, his psyche would switch to “cuts” of a differently variety; when a draw was called off for, so the concentration would drift off to who had been drawing what. For the first time today, McIlroy acknowledged the negative implications of all the litigation. “I’ve obviously got people to handle that stuff for me and I only see a fraction of it,” he said. “But it’s something that shouldn’t be in my mind. You know, it’s something that I don’t really think and athlete or anyone should go through. "I’ve seen more lawyers offices and more lawyers this year than I care to see in my entire life. It’s not something I ever want to go through again and I’m making sure I won’t ever go through it again.” Added McIlroy: “As a golfer you want you mind as clear as possible and it’s hard for that to happen if you’ve got other things going on, that firstly, you don’t want to happen and, secondly you don’t feel should be happening. It’s been a distraction ... and obviously not what I wanted to have in my life.” The disputes could have some way to go yet, with Horizon counter-suing McIlroy and Oakley still seeking amends for the then world No1 leaving in joining Nike in a £78m deal in January. Whatever the rights and wrongs, the pity is that if McIlroy finishes the year at No6 then in the 27-year history of golf’s ranking system no healthy player who started the year at No1 would have plummeted so far. Of course, as McIlroy said here in a typically honest press conference, sixth in the world, with two top threes to his name, hardly classifies it as “a disastrous year”. But when placed alongside his finish to 2012 then it has, at the very best, been as mediocre as it was unexpected. And nowhere does this seem to apply more than here at the DP World Tour Championship and a Race To Dubai finale which McIlroy won in such mesmeric style last year. McIlroy was already assured of the Order of Merit title, and, indeed, the $1m bonus, when standing on the 14th tee three behind Justin Rose who had just posted a 62, believing he done enough to prevail in the tournament proper. McIlroy proceeded to reel off birdies on each of those final five holes for his fourth triumph in an eight-event run which had begun with an eight-shot victory at the USPGA. While McIlroy sat, undisputed on his throne, a stunned Rose went off to re-evaluate. And so the Englishman comes back as the US Open champion with the Order of Merit in his sights, while McIlroy returns in 46th in the standings with only the week itself as his target. But still, starting Thursday, it could be a week which would mean so much for McIlroy in the country where he won his first professional title. “Yeah, it’s been an interesting year,” McIlroy said. “A lot has gone on off and on the course, but the big thing for me now, the most important thing for me now, is that my game is in really good shape again. If it starts to work the way I know it can and that most people know it can, then everything else will fall into place ... It would be a great way to cap off the season with a win.” Indeed, the lawyers wouldn’t be the only winners. For the time being, anyway.

Rory's year in the rough ...

January: Misses cut in Abu Dhabi after being unveiled as the new Nike superstar in a £78m deal. Oakley has already revealed intent to sue McIlroy, the world No 1, for breach on contract.
February: Beaten in first round of World Match Play by compatriot Shane Lowry before walking off at Honda Classic midway through second round.
March: Promising performances at both Doral and at Texas Open where he finishes second.
April: Disappoints at Masters with a tie for 25th. Rumours emerge at Augusta of discord with management company.
May: Lifts hopes with a top 10 at Players, but misses cut at Wentworth. Admits to things going on' in background but refuses to discuss further.
June: Finishes outside top 40 at US Open before missing cut at Irish Open.
July: Misses the cut at Open at Muirfield and says he feels 'brain dead' on course.
August: Best major display of the year with eighth at USPGA.
September: Fails to make top 30 on PGA Tour's FedEx Cup standings who advance to Tour Championship.
October: Finally announces that he has split with Horizon to set up his own management firm, Rory McIlroy Inc. Finishes second at Korean Open and then sixth in WGC event in China. Horizon announce they will counter sue as court hears details of relationship breakdown finances.
November: Oakley increase legal pressure as McIlroy, now down to world No 6, at Dubai bemoaning number of visits with lawyers.