DEREK LAWRENSON IN DUBAI: Befitting a man who has won more world ranking points than any other this season, Rory McIlroy has no regrets that he's not in position to claim the Race to Dubai.

Rory McIlroy bounced back from a disappointing performance on Friday to come to within two strokes of leaders John Rahm and McIlroy, who is chasing a third victory at the DP World Tour Championship.

As another week on the sporting landscape races by, Sportsmail's Riath Al-Samarrai examines who has left themselves hot, and who has been left firmly out in the cold.

Brooks Koepka gathered all his crew around him on the practice ground here on Monday for a rallying cry at the end of his three-month break following knee surgery.

McIlroy could hardly ask for a more alluring target in his first tournament for seven weeks. A win at the Farmers Insurance Open will take him back to world No 1 for the first time in more than four years.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: Six weeks into the new year, McIlroy has already achieved his first goal for this season. On Monday, he will be on top of the world.

WORLD OF GOLF - DEREK LAWRENSON: You have to go all the way back to August last year to find the last time Woods, Koepka and McIlroy were all in the same place at the same time.

DEREK LAWRENSON IN LOS ANGELES: Imagine having a local rapper chanting rhymes to a sizeable crowd as you prepare to play to the par three 16th at the Genesis Invitational pro-am. 

DEREK LAWRENSON IN LOS ANGELES: A couple of firecrackers from Rory McIlroy in his first round back as world number one, and an opening statement from Tiger Woods.

DEREK LAWRENSON IN LOS ANGELES: On a day when Tiger showed once more that no venue causes him fits quite like the wiles and mysteries of Riviera, McIlroy answered the riddles with a fine 67

Rory McIlroy has delivered a potentially fatal blow to the proposed Premier Golf League by ruling himself out of joining a breakaway circuit.

DEREK LAWRENSON IN ORLANDO: Another masterclass from Rory McIlroy but a nightmare first round for Tommy Fleetwood at the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Rory McIlroy was still a teenager when he marked his first appearance at the Players Championship in 2009 by getting thrown out of bars along Jacksonville Beach for carrying a fake ID.

If you were wondering why Rory McIlroy is sporting a leaner look these days, a memorable video posted on social media on Tuesday rather gave the game away.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: Sir Nick Faldo believes Rory McIlroy and other leading lights will have a real opportunity to rewrite golf history if the majors are packed into a tight window.

Northern Irishman Rory Mcilroy showed off a few of his trademark moves including keepy-ups on his club before smashing the ball into the trees.

Augusta announced last month that the 2020 tournament, scheduled for April 9-12, had been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The tournament is now set to be held November 12-15. 

It's pretty crazy for me to be nominated for Sports Personality of the Year award. I found out when my management company rang me but it didn't really sink in until the official announcement.

DEREK LAWRENSON: Rory McIlroy's prize for wiping the floor with Brooks Koepka in the final round of the FedEx Cup play-offs on Sunday was the largest in golf history

Rory McIlroy has set himself the ambitious target of two wins from the five events he has left this year to make it five titles for the season and equal his best-ever haul.

Rory McIlroy admitted he only had himself to blame after making the cut with nothing to spare in the BMW PGA Championship. He recently took two weeks off.

The four-time major winner officially took the world No 1 spot again on Monday, ending Koepka's 38-week reign at the top since winning the 2019 PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in May.

Tiger Woods may be fluent in holing putts and winning majors, but it seems his language skills leave a little to be desired. Led by 'teacher' Matsuyama, he brushed up on some of the key golfing terms.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: Six weeks into the new year, McIlroy has already achieved his first goal for this season. On Monday, he will be on top of the world.

WORLD OF GOLF - DEREK LAWRENSON: You have to go all the way back to August last year to find the last time Woods, Koepka and McIlroy were all in the same place at the same time.

DEREK LAWRENSON - WORLD OF GOLF: Sir Nick Faldo believes Rory McIlroy and other leading lights will have a real opportunity to rewrite golf history if the majors are packed into a tight window.

DEREK LAWRENSON AT PEBBLE BEACH: A thrilling weekend is in prospect at the US Open with Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy in contention behind leader Gary Woodland.

DEREK LAWRENSON AT PEBBLE BEACH: One month to go until the biggest sporting event the province has seen, and the boys from Northern Ireland are building up a head of steam.

DEREK LAWRENSON IN LOS ANGELES: There was no Hollywood ending on Sunday for Rory McIlroy following his first week back as world number one.

A statement said 'appropriate testing measures' would be put in place to protect the health of players, production crew and others on site.

The North of Ireland Amateur Open in 2005 was not an event expected to produce much glamour, but a 16-year-old Rory McIlroy was dressed to impress.