Healthy Rory McIlroy wants his world No. 1 ranking back

Rory McIlroy is in Turkey this week for his first of three chances to end a disappointing 2015 on a high note and warn his rivals not to get too comfy in their lofty positions atop the golf world.

Claiming to be fit after an ankle injury in July derailed a promising campaign that began with two early wins on the PGA Tour, McIlroy believes at least one victory in the European Tour’s Final Series would salvage an unsatisfying season during which he lost his top ranking and at least one 3-iron.

The four-time major winner, who got off to a good start on Thursday with a chip-in for birdie on his second hole (No. 11), also hoped to serve notice on Jason Day and Jordan Spieth that he’s ready to reclaim his spot as the game’s best.

“I’d like to win the Race to Dubai, like to win at least one of these last three events I’m playing,” McIlroy told reporters on Wednesday about the Euro equivalent of the U.S. tour’s season-ending FedEx Cup series. “That would make me feel better about the end of the year, from when I injured my ankle at the start of July.

“If I was to go from then to the end of the season without another win, especially with how I was playing up until that point, it would be very disappointing,” he added.

McIlroy, who has no wins and one top-10 finish since returning to competition after his injury, will kick off a busy stretch of three tournaments in four weeks with the Turkish Airlines Open on Thursday. It’s on to the WGC-HSBC Champions next week in China and then the finale at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

And while first things first, McIlroy conceded he looked forward to next year’s majors where he hoped to take on the other two members of golf’s current “Big 3” -- world No. 1 Jason Day and second-ranked Jordan Spieth.

“I’d really enjoy the challenge of us all being there on the Sunday at Augusta, or any tournament for that matter,” McIlroy told ESPN. “I’m happy that the world of golf is hoping to see the three of us as a repeat of the three-way rivalry between Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. We’re not quite there yet, but it’ll be a lot of fun and exciting golf if it happens.”

Should all go as planned, by next year at this time McIlroy will have left his competition a few rungs behind him on the rankings ladder.

“The world No.1 is the guy playing the best golf, winning the most tournaments with the highest world ranking points -- it’s really that simple,” McIlroy said. “Jordan’s doing all of that very successfully at the moment.

“We know how quickly that can change,” added McIlroy, who watched as Day and Spieth compiled seven Ws between them as he struggled to the finish line. “I see it as my duty and responsibility to try and regain that top slot.”

McIlroy’s Thursday partners were Shane Lowry and Danny WIllett. Lowry earned his first PGA Tour win in August at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which was the second of two title defenses (after the British Open) McIlroy was forced to skip after his ankle mishap.

McIlroy fired a bogey-free, 5-under 67 in his opening round, which put him three shots back of Lee Westwood, at 8-under through 14 holes.