Past year has been a steep learning curve for Rory McIlroy

The Northern Irishman's last win was at the Eartch Course 12 months ago. He speaks to Steve Elling about his year that has seen him slump form world No 1 to No 6 and without a victory all year.

Rory Mcilroy took to the Eartch Course last year with the Race to Dubai title already secured, and added the DP World Tour Championship. Pawan Singh / The National

q Can you summarise the craziness of the past year since you birdied five holes in a row and walked off the 18th green in Dubai as the king of the sport? It has been almost impossible to predict what has happened to you this year.

a Yeah, it’s been an interesting year. Obviously, a lot of stuff went on, on the course, off the course. But the big thing for me is my game is in really good shape again, and that’s the most important thing. My game is in good shape, and if that starts to work the way I know I can and the way most people know I can, and everything else sort of falls into place. Everything else isn’t really a worry.

Do you think you have learnt more this year than last year and if so, what, and if not, why not?

I try to learn from everything that I do, and yeah, I mean, every year is a learning year. Every year for me is still a new experience. Last year was getting to world No 1 and being the dominant player in the world for a while. This year, it’s been having to handle criticism and scrutiny. So there’s always something you can learn. I’ve learnt a lot from that this year.

You have trained at the Els Club in Dubai before Abu Dhabi and there is a new European Tour Performance Institute that is opening today at the Jumeirah Golf Estates. Do you see the UAE as crucial to your pre-season?

I'll definitely be coming here. I've done it every year since I've turned pro. I'll spend a couple of weeks here before going Abu Dhabi [in January] … The facilities here are second to none. I know Justin Parsons well from the Butch Harmon school and we usually go there because, you know, he's a good friend and we get a bit of peace and quiet there. … It's worked well in the past and I don't think it's a formula that I really want to change.

How much of a relief will it be when all the legal issues, lawsuits with former managers and a sponsor, are over and you can just get back to concentrating solely on sport?

I’ve obviously got people to handle that sort of stuff for me and I only see a fraction of it, the stuff that I really want to see. It’s not something I ever want to go through again, and I’m making sure that I won’t ever go through it again.

What is missing from your game?

I guess it’s the confidence of getting on a run of events where you’re up there in contention each and every week. I think I started in Korea, in a way, but the likes of a World Golf Championships in Shanghai, you know, being up there, being disappointed with sixth; that’s something that I’m used to feeling.

Is time management something you learnt this year? Is there an example you could give during the year where your mind was clouded by off-course things?

I think I learnt a bit more about time management last year. Last year was the first year where the demand on my time was, I guess it actually got to me a little bit. I said, well, I have to remember what got me here in the first place was dedicating myself to my practice and working on my game and that’s what got me to this position. But sometimes you have to say no. It’s something Tiger [Woods] actually told me last year. He said, you have to remember what got you here in the first place, and I think you guys know, Tiger says no 99 per cent of the time, which is a good thing.

Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE