Rory McIlroy has expressed his ambition to be remembered as the greatest European golfer of all time, as he seeks a strong finish to a challenging season.

The Northern Irishman’s quest for major championship glory continues after a decade-long wait, marked by a devastating loss at the U.S. Open in June where he held a two-shot lead over Bryson DeChambeau with just five holes remaining but still missed out.

He’s had several other close calls, including losing by a single shot to Rasmus Hojgaard at his Irish Open homecoming in September and to Billy Horschel’s remarkable eagle on the second playoff hole at the BMW PGA Championship a week later. Despite these setbacks, McIlroy is leading the DP World Tour’s Race To Dubai with just two weeks left.

If he can clinch victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship and Tour Championship, he will have won the season-long order of merit six times. Only Colin Montgomerie has more, with eight wins.

In terms of major titles, McIlroy trails only Harry Vardon (seven), Faldo (six), Seve Ballesteros (five), James Braid (five) and John Henry Taylor (five) with his four championships. A win in the United Arab Emirates would bring him one step closer to his goal, something he openly acknowledged ahead of the opening round at Yas Links on Thursday.

At the press conference before the tournament on Wednesday, Rory McIlroy shared his ambitions: “I pride myself [on being] a European player. I would like to go down as the most successful European of all time. Obviously Race to Dubai wins would count to that but also major championships and hopefully I’ve got a few more Ryder Cups ahead of me as well.

Rory McIlroy is in Abu Dhabi this week

Rory McIlroy is in Abu Dhabi this week ( 

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Getty Images)

“So that’s something that I would like to, I think is a goal that’s quite attainable over the next 10 years. I’m very proud to be from Europe and have played on this tour and played on this tour consistently.

“It’s something that I’m very proud of and I just think of the greats of European golf that I grew up watching, whether it was Faldo or [Ian Woosnam] or [Bernhard] Langer or just sort of the heyday of the European Tour in the ’90s, I guess.

“I remember when I got my… not even my European Tour card. I remember when I got my first money clip just when I signed up to be a member and that was a really proud moment for me. That’s something that I’ve always been proud of and something I want to continue to do.”

Currently leading the Race To Dubai Rankings after winning a fourth Dubai Desert Classic title in January, 35 year old McIlroy holds a significant lead over Thriston Lawrence, with Hojgaard and Horschel in close pursuit.