It was the only black spot in another successful year for Rory McIlroy.
An injury picked up playing football during the summer meant the Irishman could not defend his Open Championship title at St Andrews, and left him below full fitness for the subsequent defence of his US PGA title and the FedEx Cup play-offs.
McIlroy came back to finish off 2015 in style by winning the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai on Sunday, and the European Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai, but is already looking ahead to next season, when he will hope to add to his haul of four majors and return to the world No.1 slot now held by American Jordan Spieth.
To that end, the 26-year-old learned a valuable lesson and has taken the sensible decision to hang up his boots during the golf season.
“This is my time to capitalise on my career. The next 10, 15 years is my time,” he told the BBC.
“I really can’t be doing silly things like playing football in the middle of the season to jeopardise even six months of my career. It’s a big chunk where I could make some hay and win a major or two.
“I won’t be making those mistakes again next year.”
McIlroy has always maintained that he doesn’t pay too much attention to the world rankings, which he knows will look after themselves if he meets his potential on the course, but it’s hard to be enthralled by the prospect of a season-long battle with Spieth and Australian Jason Day, who could not be closer at the top of the game.
Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy — in that order — separated by less than half of an average point atop OWGR. Big subplot in '16.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGolf) November 23, 2015
“You definitely can’t be complacent,” McIlroy said.
“I had a big lead in the world rankings and you see Jordan and Jason play the way they did. Fields are so deep, you can’t let up at all.
“Whether it’s Jordan Spieth or Jason Day or anyone else, I have certain objectives throughout the year and it doesn’t matter who it is, I just want to play the best golf possible.
“I know if I do play to my best or close to my best then I am able to win big tournaments.”
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