Two words said it all as golf's new world No.1 Rory McIlroy flew from Florida to New York to celebrate with his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, until recently the No.1 player in women's tennis.

"Exciting times," said the 22-year-old after winning the Honda Classic to become the second youngest player to top the rankings since they began in 1986.

Indeed they are. With his return to the Masters, scene of his final-round 80 last year, only a month away, it is not just ending Luke Donald's nine-month reign which has Northern Ireland's US Open champion licking his lips.

It is also the fact he won after Tiger Woods applied the pressure with a birdie-eagle finish for 62, the lowest final round of his career. There was also Lee Westwood's closing 63, the lowest round he has shot in the United States. And it is only three weeks since Phil Mickelson wiped the floor with Woods with a closing 64 at Pebble Beach.

"I think it's fantastic for the game," said McIlroy, who has only once finished outside the top five in 12 tournaments since the US PGA Championship last August. "I think everyone is excited for Augusta to roll around," he said. "I definitely know I am. I'm looking forward to getting back there and giving it another shot."

Everybody knows how well McIlroy can hit the ball, but his third win in the States proved how much he has improved his short game and his nerve. He does not mind admitting that he choked at Augusta last year when he went from four ahead after 54 holes to 10 behind with the worst final round of the day.

At Palm Beach Gardens he did not miss once from inside 10 feet on the final day, made a brilliant par save from deep rough on the 14th and twice got up and down from bunkers in the last four holes.

"I feel I've always believed in my ability; it's just doing it at the right times," he said. "I'm getting better at knowing what I need to do when I get into contention. That comes with experience. I definitely don't doubt myself so often now.

"Obviously you try to forget the bad experiences and remember the good ones. It gives me a little bit of confidence knowing if I get myself in that position again that I'm able to finish the job off.

"It was always a dream of mine to become the world No.1 but I didn't know that I would be able to get here this quickly."

McIlroy, who, at 16, shot 61 at Royal Portrush, turned professional in 2007 and came third in only his second event, but had to wait a further 16 months for his first victory.

He broke through in the States with a course-record closing 62 at Quail Hollow just before his 21st birthday and then last June, only two months after his Masters meltdown, became the youngest winner of the US Open since Bobby Jones in 1923. That alone was staggering, but he won by eight shots and with a score that broke the championship record by four.

Graeme McDowell, his compatriot, stablemate, Ryder Cup partner and predecessor as US Open champion, said: "This golf season just got a lot more spicy. Obviously Tiger is back doing outrageous things that only Tiger can do, but Rory is the best player I've ever seen. It's pretty scary to see what he can do with a ball.

"As soon as he learned how to putt, he was going to be a dominating force and you're starting to see that now. That was the missing link. He was not a stand-out two years ago because he didn't have the putting ability. Now he has."

Nick Rodger, Back Page