Q. That is your nineteenth season on Tour if I’ve it appropriate, nineteenth full season. How do you are feeling heading into this one?

LUKE DONALD: nineteenth, yeah, on DP World Tour. Yeah, 2002 was once I turned — nicely, 2001 once I turned skilled. It’s been much more than that as an expert.

Yeah, definitely, 46 years outdated I turned in December, so you are feeling the physique doesn’t work fairly as nicely. However nonetheless get pleasure from popping out and competing and attempting my finest towards a few of these nice younger gamers. It’s not simple however I really like competing.

Q. You had a really busy yr final yr. How good was it to get a break over Christmas?

LUKE DONALD: I used to be attempting to do the maths in my head this morning. It’s been 115 days since my final aggressive shot, which was the Sunday at Wentworth. I haven’t taken a break that lengthy in a very long time. I used to take a pair months off when the seasons have been a bit of bit totally different, 10, 12 years in the past. Possibly put the golf equipment away for a month or two. However , this was a very good, lengthy break. Received to spend some good time with the household, and yeah, however able to get going once more.

Q. Do you continue to put the identical quantity of preparation and practise forward of a brand new season?

LUKE DONALD: My preparation is barely totally different. I’ve to be a bit of bit extra environment friendly as a result of it’s simply the way in which my physique is. I simply can’t grind on the market six, seven hours a day. So attempt to be a bit extra environment friendly with my time. However do sufficient the place I really feel like, , I’m sharp and I’m able to compete.

Once more, I really feel like most components of my sport simply want a bit of bit of labor right here and there, and the remaining form of takes care of itself.

Q. I might consider many a worse place to start out the season than at Dubai Creek. What do you make of the venue?

LUKE DONALD: I first got here to Dubai I believe within the ’94. I performed the Dubai Beginner. I used to be 17 years outdated. It was someplace round right here, the Creek, I consider. It was a bit of bit totally different then. I don’t recall what seemed like again then but it surely’s nice to be again.

It’s nice to be again, and , it’s at all times — you’re at all times handled by good climate, good circumstances, and it’s good to play form of a unique occasion this week. , the type of Professional-Am feeling, smaller quantity of individuals on a brand new course the place I believe the entire gamers are fairly excited to get going.

Q. And first time we’ve seen you because you have been introduced because the captain as soon as once more going into New York. How a lot are you wanting ahead to that problem over the subsequent two years, and can you begin the preparations now, even this distant?

LUKE DONALD: Yeah, I imply, day one once I introduced early December that I used to be going to do it once more, I already had some ideas in my head about how we may give the staff the very best alternative to repeat in New York.

It’s going to be a really totally different problem and it’ll take some totally different approaches due to that. However I’m excited. I’m excited as a result of it’s going to be much more troublesome, much more troublesome away from residence.

However I’ve bought loads of time to form of work some issues out and begin interested by issues. , I believe I’m — yeah, I’m nonetheless optimistic that I may give the fellows a very good alternative to try to win away, which isn’t simple to do.