McIlroy enjoying high life in Dubai despite slip in rankings

RORY McILROY will live the high life this week despite a downturn in his world ranking.

McIlroy has declined to participate in this week’s Qatar Masters and instead will divide his time between Dubai and the UAE’s capital of Abu Dhabi.

The new world number 11 was in Dubai yesterday participating in a charity-raising pro-am at the Dubai Creek course that hosted the Dubai Desert Classic for two years from 1999 to 2000.

McIlroy’s then has corporate outings tomorrow and Wednesday in Dubai with major sponsor Jumeriah.

On Thursday, he will join Grand Slam champion, Gary Player and Darren Clarke, along with host of other players and celebrities, in the grand opening of the Saadiyat Beach golf course in Abu Dhabi. McIlroy will then take to the skies over Dubai on Friday in a hot-air balloon for a bird’s eye looking at the sprawling Emirate state.

The weekend will be a little more serious with McIlroy then heading to the Emirates course to get familiar with the venue where he captured his first and only Race to Dubai title.

But while the 20-year-old has a busy schedule ahead of this week, he was not the least deflated following last Sunday’s third place finish in the Abu Dhabi Championship.

Martin Kaymer’s second success in three years saw him jump to No. 6 in the world at the expense of McIlroy who was pushed back from No. 10 to 11th.

And Ian Poulter’s second place finish moved him from 12th on the rankings to 10th in the world.

“It’s important to keep the run going, it’s nice to finish up there all the time, but it would be nice to convert some of the top threes into wins as it’s getting a little frustrating,” he said.

“Four rounds in the 60s was a great way to start the year last week and that’s the way I have to look at it.

“If I keep putting myself in these great positions and keep knocking on the door sooner or later it will happen, I just have to keep doing it.”

“My average points went up a lot and between me in 11th spot and Jim Furyk, who is fifth, there is only 0.4 points which is nothing,” said McIlroy.

“If I can go to Dubai next week and get a win, it will put me back in the top-10 and maybe the top five.

“Martin’s moved to sixth and Ian’s gone to 10th, but I just have to keep playing well.

“I got 21 world ranking points from last week and if I can average that throughout the year then I should be okay. It’s amazing there are some weeks when I have taken a week off and moved up three places, and last Sunday where I finished third and I’ve moved down the rankings but it’s the way it goes.”

Also competing at Dubai Creek yesterday was the likes of Paul Casey, Thomas Bjorn, Henrik Stenson along with Clarke, Michael Hoey, Gareth Maybin and Shane Lowry.