In Pictures: Rory McIlroy in Dubai through the years

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  The 2009 tournament was his fourth start in Dubai, having began competing in the tournament in 2006 when he was only 16. He missed the cut in 2006 and 2008 and finished 52nd in 2007 before breaking through that year. Jeff Topping / The National

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic. Randi Sokoloff / The National

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic. Jeff Topping / The National

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2009 Dubai Desert Classic. Jeff Topping / The National

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  The next year, at the 2010 Dubai Desert Classic, Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for sixth with Alvaro Quiros of Spain at 8-under. He finished three strokes off the winning pace set by Miguel Angel Jimenez at 11-under. Stephen Lock / The National

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  Rory McIlroy with the Burj Al Arab while in Dubai for the 210 Dubai Desert Classic, in a promotional shot for Jumeirah, who was then his primary sponsor. David Cannon / Getty Images

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2010 Dubai Desert Classic. He was 20 years old at the time of the tournament. His first PGA Tour win, at the 2010 Quail Hollow Championship, happened three months after this tournament. Ali Haider / EPA

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  Rory McIlroy in another 2010 promotional shot for Jumeirah. Nike became his primary sponsor in January 2013. David Cannon / Getty Images

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  At the 2011 Dubai Desert Classic, Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for 10th at 6-under. Alvaro Quiros, whom he tied the year before, won the tournament at 11-under. Mike Young / The National

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2011 Dubai Desert Classic. He went on to win his first major, the 2011 US Open, just four months after this tournament. Ravindranath K / The National

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2011 Dubai Desert Classic. Ravindranath K / The National

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2011 Dubai Desert Classic. In addition to the 2011 US Open, he won the UBS Hong Kong Open in December of that year. Ravindranath K / The National

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  Rory McIlroy competed in Dubai a second time in 2011, at the DP World Tour Championship, then called the Dubai World Championship. He had finished third at the tournament in 2009 and fifth in 2010 before finishing 11th in 2011. Jeff Topping / The National

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2011 Dubai World Championship in November. Jeff Topping / The National

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2012 Dubai Desert Classic, with then-girlfriend and now-fiancee Caroline Wozniacki. David Cannon / Getty Images

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  Rory McIlroy plays a shot on the Burj Al Arab helipad as part a promotional event for the 2012 Dubai Desert Classic. Andrew Redington / Getty Images

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2012 Dubai Desert Classic. He finished tied for fifth at 14-under, four strokes behind Rafa Cabrera-Bello of Spain. Jeff Topping / The National

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2012 Dubai Desert Classic. He did not compete in the 2013 tournament. Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters

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  Rory McIlroy at the beginning of the 2012 DP World Tour Championship. Jeff Topping / The National

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2012 DP World Tour Championship. He won the event, shooting 23-under to beat Justin Rose by two strokes for his second career victory in Dubai. Jumana El Heloueh / Reuters

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  The victory completed a banner season for the then-23 year old, with wins at The Honda Classic in March, PGA Championship for his second major in August, Deutsche Bank Championship and BMW Championship in September and finally the victory in Dubai in November. Jumana El Heloueh / Reuters

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  Rory McIlroy with the DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai trophies after winning the tournament, and European Tour money list, in 2012. Pawan Singh / The National

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  Rory McIlroy at the 2013 DP World Tour Championship. He finished tied for fifth at 15-under, 10 strokes back of winner Henrik Stenson. He struggled last year, not registering a win until the Emirates Australian Open in December. Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images

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  Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki at the 2013 DP World Tour Championship. They got engaged over New Year's Eve 2013 and McIlroy finished tied for second at the 2014 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship ahead of this week's Dubai Desert Classic, where he'll compete in Dubai for the 13th time. Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images

Rory McIlroy shot to fame for the first time after winning the Dubai Desert Classic in 2009. He's competed there often since, including a win at the DP World Tour Championship in 2012. In a Q&A with The National's John McAuley on Sunday, he called Dubai his "home from home." As an amateur in 2006 he made just his fourth European Tour start at the Classic and this week he'll be competing in Dubai for the 13th time in his career.