Four-time major winner, Rory McIlroy, has expressed optimism as he begins his 2022 season at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. McIlroy has finished as runner-up at the event four times in the past and also has four other top-three finishes. This year would mark his 12th appearance at the event, and he is hoping to win it for the first time.

McIlory had a good 2021 season, winning two PGA titles. He had the lead at the start of the DP World Tour Championship but lost it and finished the event tied at sixth position. This year, the Northern Irishman would also try to win his fifth major after finishing the season without one several times.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, he said that he was filled with the optimism that comes with the start of a new season: “I think every time you tee it up for the first time of the year, there’s renewed optimism and excitement and anticipation and even though this is going into my 15th or 16th year on Tour, it’s no different. You’re excited to get the season underway. You want to get off to a good start.”

At last year’s Ryder Cup, McIlroy was joyous after he defeated Xander Schauffele in a singles game, but that did not prevent Team Europe from suffering their worst loss in years, with a 19-9 final scoreline. McIlroy has said that he feels like his game improved after the Ryder Cup and would be hoping to make it even better this season: “I just want to pick up where I left off at the end of last year. I felt like I turned a corner after The Ryder Cup and played some good golf in that stretch. I just want to try to keep doing what I’m doing with that and feel like I’ve got a couple of nice thoughts with the swing, try to get the scoring clubs as I can and go from there.”

Written by: Leon Osamor