Rory McIlroy has his sights set on turning into world No.1 for the ninth time as he bids to defend his CJ Cup title.
McIlroy can return to the highest of the rankings for the primary time since July 2020 by profitable his twenty third PGA Tour occasion at Congaree Golf Membership in South Carolina, the event having moved from Las Vegas.
Present No.1 Scottie Scheffler would even have to complete worse than a two-way tie for second, though McIlroy may overhaul the Masters champion with outright second place if Scheffler is outdoors the highest 35.
“I acquired to primary on the planet after I received the Honda Traditional in 2012,” McIlroy advised a pre-tournament press convention on Wednesday.
“It had been a objective of mine for perhaps six months up till that time however I bear in mind waking up the following morning and being like, ‘is that this it?’
“You’re employed in direction of a objective for therefore lengthy and then you definitely get up the following day and you do not really feel any totally different after having achieved it.
“So I feel then it is a matter of getting to reframe your targets and reframe what success appears to be like like.
“I feel that is one of many nice issues about this sport, regardless of how a lot you’ve got achieved or how a lot success you’ve got had, you all the time need to do one thing else, there’s all the time one thing else to do.
“I suppose the cool factor about it’s you get to primary and it feels nice within the second, and the dangerous factor is you perhaps must work more durable to remain there.
“I feel if I get again to primary this week it is my ninth time. It kind of illustrates you possibly can have your runs and you may keep there, however I feel the cool half is the journey and the journey getting again there.
“It is kind of like a heavyweight boxer shedding a world title and it is a journey to get that title again. I really feel like that is the cool a part of it and that is the journey that I’ve kind of been via over the previous 12 months.”
McIlroy was ranked 14th on the planet earlier than his victory in Las Vegas final 12 months, however has since recorded two additional wins and 12 different top-10 finishes to get inside hanging distance of Scheffler.
“I perhaps do not hold as a lot of a detailed eye on it as I used to, however nonetheless it is a level of satisfaction for all of us on the market to be extremely ranked,” the four-time main winner added.
“And to get to primary on the planet at no matter you do is an unbelievable accolade, one thing you have to be pleased with.”
