Graeme McDowell tees up in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic for the first time in five years believing he’s matured greatly both on and off the course in that time.

It was in Dubai and atop of the 700-foot high Burg Al Arab helipad McDowell proposed to his now wife Kristin who were married in 2013 while the couple welcomed their first child, Vale who is now three months old.

But rather than concerns that the challenges of a newborn could cause problems with his golfing form, the Northern Irishman believes that having a different focus at home can enable him to produce better displays on the fairways.

The Ryder Cup star hopes to put that theory into practice at Emirates Golf Club, a venue he describes as “a perfect place to start the year”.

“It’s my first start of the year and I’m looking forward to it,” McDowell said. “It’s just a great place to come and start the season.

Stuart Adams ‘timely’ shot of England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick during today’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic Pro-Am. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)

“I guess my thinking was sunshine and a perfect golf course would be the reasons for being out here, and I’ve been certainly rewarded with both this week.

“The golf course is in phenomenal condition, and I’m looking forward to the year. I’m feeling fresh and things are certainly good in my life off the golf course, which I feel is giving me the mental space and mental energy to remotivate and refocus myself on my game and certainly concentrate on the next four or five years and trying to be the best I can be.

“I’ve got a great schedule this year – every tournament is very, very important to me. This one’s certainly no different, and I’m here to compete and here to do the job if I can.

“This is certainly one of my favourite events in the Middle East, and looking around the last few days, I have been wondering why I haven’t been back here in a few years – it’s a great place to start the year.

“This is a classic golf course, no doubt about it. Certainly length helps around here, but there’s obviously a huge premium on accuracy. The rough is pretty thick this week – you’ve got to drive it in the fairway to give yourself an opportunity to make birdies around here. The scoring is normally fairly low and the greens are just perfect, as well.

“It’s a good golf course for me. Probably of the four Middle East events we play, this has certainly got to be the best opportunity from a golf course point of view for me – I’m looking forward to seeing how I do this week.”

Newly engaged Pablo Larrazabal driving off the eight tee during today’s Pro Am. (Photo – Stuart Adams/www.golftourimages.com)

While McDowell is enjoying life away from the course, the Alstom Open de France winner is determined to flourish on it as well, with his senior role at last year’s Ryder Cup instilling a sense of purpose.

McDowell collected three points from three matches at Gleneagles, partnering rookie Victor Dubuisson to two foursomes victories before fighting back to beat Jordan Spieth in the opening singles contest.

“I felt like I gained a lot of confidence from The Ryder Cup last year,” he added. “Maybe not even in the way I played, but just in the way that I felt like I handled myself.

“You never really see yourself as an experienced player until the day when you realise that you’re able to go and enjoy an experience like The Ryder Cup and not be as intimidated as you were in the past.

“Just that whole week, it boosts you from a confidence point of view, no doubt about it. It was a fun week – I played solidly towards the end of the year and like I say, I feel like there’s certainly been a shift in my life the last couple years.

“I was just talking over the last few days with my team about the fact that in the 12 month Ryder Cup qualification window, I got married and had a baby and still made The Ryder Cup team in my own right.

“So with a couple of life changing experiences, but still being able to play the kind of golf that I’ve been playing, I think it bodes well going into the next five to ten years. I feel like my personal life has given me the chance to have the space to play as well as I can on the golf course.

“Obviously I enjoy my home time much more than I ever did. I’m much more settled than I ever was, and when I do go home, it gives you such a different perspective away from the game and allows you to switch off a lot more; you’re certainly fresher mentally when you do come back out.”