Ever wondered what it takes to become the best golfer in the world?

As well as possessing an extraordinary amount of natural talent, this might be the answer: hitting 16,500 golf balls, running 1,036 kilometres and straining through 6,800 press-ups.

Oh, and here's the bad news: that's just one year’s work.

See the latest news from Rory McIlroy and his intensive training

The incredible statistics of 12 months in the life of Rory McIlroy, including his golfing and intense workout

McIlroy gets himself out of a scrape at East Lake in just one of the 16,500 balls he's hit over the past year

McIlroy pens his signature for an adoring fan... he signs 6,350 autographs every year

McIlroy tees off during the BMW Championship showing off skills honed in intensive practice

These are the staggering statistics behind Rory McIlroy's last 12 months, compiled by the four-time major champion together with Santander Spendlytics, who have developed an innovative app that tells customers how much they spend on their debit and credit cards, and where they spend it.

McIlroy may have lost his place at the top of the world rankings following an injury-interrupted summer, but he has still got through a remarkable workload.

The 26-year-old Northern Irishman admits his palms are hardened from having hit so many golf balls, and no wonder. He's also walked 1,500 kilometers on the course so far this year.

All that practice certainly helps: McIlroy's longest drive in competition was an enormous 436 yards, while the fastest ball speed he has achieved was a barely believable 301kph.

6,350 lucky people have also walked off with his autograph.

Off the course, McIlroy's impressive physique has been honed by 3,300 lengths of the swimming pool, 6,320 pull-ups and 640 kilometers on a bike.

That makes for a remarkable comparison with 2011, before McIlroy took up his new fitness regime. That year, he swam just 300 lengths - less than 10 per cent of what he has achieved in 2015.

And if the thought alone of all those hours working out doesn't make you feel tired, perhaps the 350 hours he's spent on a plane might. He's also spent 287 nights in a hotel, while taking just 18 days off work.

Who ever said being a professional golfer was easy?

'This is my life, this is what I do - it’s become the norm,' McIlroy told Sportsmail. 'I’m sort of used to it by now.

Santander's Spendlytics app has tracked McIlroy's year in both his golf stats (right) and his travel

McIlroy's intensive training regime has also been tracked, including an incredible 6,800 press-ups

'I guess when you start playing golf and think about becoming professional you don’t think about all the stuff that goes with it. When I watched golf on TV and saw a guy winning at the end of the week I sort of thought that’s it. But you learn as you go on that there’s a lot more to it than that.

'Is it fun? The most fun I have is out on the golf course and trying to win. That’s why I started to play the game.

‘But of course I'm enjoying it, I love what I do, it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.

'I'm able to live out my dream, not a lot of people can say that.'