Rory McIlroy checks in on 2015 goals with his boarding pass

Writing his new year resolutions on his flights to the UAE have become routine since the Northern Irishman first began the practice at the beginning of his career.

From left, Justin Rose of England, Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, Rickie Fowler of the USA and Henrik Stenson of Sweden during a photocall at the Abu Dhabi Golf Cub. Andrew Redington / Getty Images

ABU DHABI // Rory McIlroy emerged from hibernation earlier this month, made his way to Dublin and boarded a flight for Dubai.

The world No 1 has for some time used the emirate to fine-tune his game going into a new season, and would typically spend the journey eastwards outlining his goals for the year ahead.

Rather refreshingly, they are not logged on iPhone or iPad, but scribbled on the back of his boarding pass, then stored away in his wallet for safe-keeping until December. It has become routine since he first began the practice at the beginning of his career. In fact, the only change tends to be the stamped digit on the front of the ticket. Safe to assume that currently reads ‘1A’.

“It does, yes,” said McIlroy yesterday, as he prepares to kick-start his 2015 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship. “It’s funny, the numbers of the seat have gradually gotten less and less: 13B, 12A, it’s been nice. One day I won’t need a boarding pass – that’s the ultimate.”

Continue the success gleaned through 2014, and McIlroy will surely soon be able to afford his own fleet. Last season was a standout for the Northern Irishman, embroidered by back-to-back major titles – taking his tally, at age 25, to four – a second Race to Dubai crown and his return to the rankings summit.

However, the year nevertheless concluded with a few targets left unchecked.

“I actually didn’t achieve everything I wanted to,” McIlroy said. “I wanted to have six worldwide wins and I only had four. But still a good year.”

While McIlroy preferred not to divulge his goals for this season – clinching the Masters in April, and thus the career grand slam, presumably constitutes one – or discuss at length an impending court case against his former management company, he numbered the objectives at seven.

Winning in Abu Dhabi would certainly help in ticking a few entries off the list. He has been close numerous times before, and twice in the past three years would have lifted the Falcon trophy had it not been for rule infringements.

Twelve months ago, he finished runner-up to Pablo Larrazabal by a shot after incurring a two-stroke penalty for failing to take full relief from ground under repair. Clearly, it still rankles.

“I’ve definitely got unfinished business here,” McIlroy said. “It’s a golf course I know I can win on – it’s just a matter of being smart. I’m looking forward to another strong start to the season.”

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