Rory McIlroy has one eye on the Masters and would love the opportunity to go up against Tiger Woods in April for a major title.
McIlroy this weekend will defend the Dubai Desert Classic title he won for the second time in 2015, but he is looking forward to Augusta.
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The Masters is the only major that McIlroy has yet to win. The 80th annual Masters begins April 7. McIlroy's best finish in the year's first golf major is fourth in 2015.
"It's going to be the most talked-about tournament because of the gap between the PGA Championship in August and April," McIlroy said Wednesday in Dubai. "It's a big deal and there's a long wait and for people who don't follow golf closely, it's probably the start of their golf season.
"I don't mind talking about it this early, as long as I don't put so much emphasis on it because there are so many other great tournaments that I want to try to win before getting to Augusta.
"Of course you want to be part of the discussion. Sometimes it gets into your head at times when you don't want it to, but it's always better to be part of the conversation."
McIlroy is disappointed that 14-time major winner Woods — who won the Dubai Desert Classic in 2006 and 2008 — is unlikely to be in the field at Augusta. Woods continues his recovery from back problems.
Woods, 40, last won a Grand Slam tournament in 2008, a year after McIlroy turned pro.
McIlroy hopes Woods can return so they can go head-to-head for a top title.
"Hopefully if he can get healthy, I would still love to have a crack at him down the stretch in a major, I would love that, just once," McIlroy said. "At this point it's just up to him to get healthy and get his game back and if I hopefully keep playing the way I'm playing, maybe one day it'll happen."