I can nearly see my own private practice course from up here!

RORY McILROY heads into this week’s defence of his Omega Dubai Desert Classic title by signing the biggest single deal of his short professional career.

The Dubai-based Jumeirah Group has signed 20-year old McIlroy to a new three-year sponsorship arrangement believed to be worth €3 million and €5 million. The three-time Irish Examiner National Junior Sports Star also has deals with Bennett, an Irish construction and property development company, FL Partners, a Dublin-based private equity firm, Lough Erne Golf Resort, Titleist and Footjoy.

Gerald Lawless, the Irish executive chairman of the Jumeirah Group, joined McIlroy and Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler, who manages McIlroy, yesterday in a signing of McIlroy’s new contract.