Rory McIlroy is determined to do everything he can to stay at the top of the golfing world for the next ten years as he aims to make more history on the DP World Tour.
The Northern Irishman is very much living in the present at this week's DP World India Championship as he seeks not only a first DP World Tour title on the subcontinent but also a boost in his bid to win a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title.
But at just 37, he could still have many of his best years ahead of him, and is taking inspiration from Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose, who is now 46 but has won on the PGA Tour this season and is sat 18th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
He is also looking to tennis and Novak Djokovic, who is still competing in Grand Slams and winning on the ATP Tour at 39, with both Rose and the Serbian utilising a performance truck to keep them physically at their best.
McIlroy has this week become a global ambassador for DP World, who will take his personalised fitness and recovery environment from tournament to tournament on both the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, and the two-time reigning Masters champion is hopeful that will help him keep competing for years to come.
"The idea came from Justin Rose who has something similar with the recovery unit that he has in the US. Novak Djokovic has the same thing. The idea came from them," he said.
"I decided to pull the trigger on it when Justin won in Memphis last year. He's 45 years old, playing great, contending in Major Championships, and at that time I was 36. I was like, I want to play really well for the next ten years; I feel like I need to do something like this.
"I basically spent probably the next six to nine months configuring a performance trailer. Found a company from the Netherlands, Expandable, that do a really good job, so configured that the way I wanted to and used that for the last three tournaments in the US in Memphis and St. Louis and Atlanta.
"At that point we had started to talk to DP World about maybe trying to deepen the relationship and I thought... I have the use of this wonderful trailer in the US but I don't have any coverage around the world.
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"DP World being the expert in the logistics that they are, I thought, well, maybe if I can try to do something similar in Europe and the Middle East and the international events that I play, at least that will provide my coverage for every event that I go to.
"So I worked with DP World on trying to find a solution for that. We obviously came to a great agreement and hopefully by the time I play the bulk of my US schedule next year, the first tournament back in Europe will be the Irish Open and hopefully by the Irish Open then I'll have that European and rest the world trailer that I can use as well."
McIlroy was pushed down to third in the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World last week as Eugenio Chacarra finished in a tie for second at the Open de España presented by Madrid but he could be on top for the first time this season by the end of the week at Delhi Golf Club.
The battle to be Europe's number one is so tight that any of Rankings leader Patrick Reed, Chacarra, McIlroy or Casey Jarvis could lead come Sunday, with just three events to follow in the 2026 campaign.
A fifth year-long title in a row would see McIlroy match Colin Montgomerie's record haul and he admits that has been his primary focus since The Open Championship.
"At this stage of my career, it's always nice to get to this part of season and have a chance to win the Race to Dubai," he said.
"Eugenio jumped me last week in Spain. Patrick isn't playing so well. So I think this is really a good opportunity this week to cut into that lead and head to the Middle East in a really good spot to try to win my eighth Race to Dubai.
"So that's important. Obviously the Majors are important. It's a Ryder Cup year next year. I want to make that team. I want to contribute. I want to earn more points for Europe.
"But I think Majors, Ryder Cup, international golf, but obviously the bulk of our play is in America as well. I still want to do well over there.
"So I feel like I have a lot of plates spinning, but I think at this stage of my career that's a good thing. No matter where I turn or play, I feel like I've always got something to strive for or achieve."
McIlroy has made some headlines this week for his choice of baggy trousers but that is not the only change he is making to equipment and apparel in New Delhi.
Just like last season, he will not be using a driver at the narrow, 6,912-yard Delhi Golf Club layout and he is relishing a test that he does not get anywhere else in the professional game.
"It's looking good," he said. "Just as tight as I remember from last year. It's definitely a different golf course than what we're used to playing. It doesn't offer you a lot of room off the tee. A lot of irons and strategic play with your tee shots.
"This year I think the rough is a lot longer and thicker than it was last year, so that's going to present a challenge. But if you're hitting irons off tees you shouldn't really be in the rough, so I will be telling myself that tomorrow.
"I'm here to win the tournament. I'm not here to hit drivers. I think the best chance will be by keeping the driver in the bag or in the hotel room so I'm not even attempting to hit it."
