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Big Mac: Rory McIlroy climbed to the top of the world rankings by winning the Honda Classic on Sunday 

New world No.1 McIlroy takes pleasure in fending off Woods at Honda

Rory McIlroy has admitted that holding off Tiger to get to world No.1 by winning the Honda Classic at the weekend was one of the most satisfying moments of his career up to now.

Leading by two shots going into the final round at PGA National, McIlroy knew he would replace Luke Donald at the top of the world rankings by holding on for victory. And though a resurgent Woods posted a 62 – the lowest final round of his PGA Tour career – to turn up the heat on the 22-year-old Northern Irishman, McIlroy held on for his sixth professional victory to become golf’s second youngest No.1 of all time.

Speaking ahead of this week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship in Miami, where he will attempt to extend his lead at the top of the rankings, McIlroy admitted that the manner of his victory, as much as the win itself, had given him enormous satisfaction.

He said: “There were a couple of points on Sunday night when I was flying up to New York where I just was sort of sitting there on the plane and reflecting on the day and reflecting on the last couple of weeks where I obviously had a chance to do it in Arizona and didn’t quite, and was able to do it the next week.

“And in the way that I did it on Sunday with Tiger making the charge, it was almost more satisfying to do it that way, knowing that I held up under pretty intense pressure when I needed to. You know, Tiger posting a score and having to just play some smart and solid golf on the way in to finish off, and I was able to do that.

“Closing out tournaments and knowing what you need to do at the right time all just comes with experience. And I feel like I’ve had a lot of experiences where I could have won tournaments and I haven’t, and it’s taking what you need from those close finishes and trying to do something a little bit better.

“What saved me on Sunday was my short game and my putting. I made some really key up-and-downs when I needed to and held a couple of really crucial putts, and that was the difference from maybe 18 months ago.”

McIlroy has become the fourth different player in just over a year to hold the world No.1 ranking – Donald, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer being the others – but he insists that he is by no means daunted by the position. (CONTINUES BELOW)

BNP Paribas Showdown

New balls, please: McIlroy took to the tennis court in New York on Monday during an exhbition match between his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki (pictured) and Maria Sharapova. See the video below for more…

“it depends what type of mind you have and if you thrive in the spotlight or if you welcome it,” said McIlroy. “I feel like I do thrive in the spotlight, and I like the attention. Not saying that I’m an attention seeker but you know you’re doing something right when you’re in the spotlight. I’d love to keep myself here for a while. But yeah, I know that it’s inevitable that I’ll lose it at some point. That’s for sure. I just hope that it’s a little further away. But, yeah, I don’t feel like I’m under any pressure because that’s not what I play golf for. It’s not to keep the No.1 ranking. It’s about winning tournaments, and if I win tournaments, the ranking will take care of itself.”

McIlroy – whose first appearance as the world’s No.1 golfer was on a tennis court in New York on Monday – also moved quickly to dispel any notion of a blossoming rivalry between himself and Woods.

“To be honest in golf, you can have a rival if you want, but at the end the day, your biggest rival is a golf course. You have to beat that,” said the reigning US Open champion. “You have to be able to beat the golf course more often than not, and that’s all you’re trying to do.

“Ultimately, you’re going to have to beat people coming down the stretch on Sundays, and whether it’s Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson or Lee Westwood or Luke Donald or Martin Kaymer or whoever. You know, I would never really want to say that I’m in a rivalry with someone.

“I just want to go out there and play good golf and solid golf. And if I can do that, then people can make the rivalries up themselves. If people want to say there’s a rivalry, so be it, but I don’t see myself as anyone’s rival out here. I just see myself as Rory McIlroy and going out there and trying to play good golf and winning tournaments at the end of the day.”

The new No.1 also revealed that he had received a number of messages congratulating him on reaching the top of the rankings – including a selection from his favourite football team, Manchester United.

“I got one from Sir Alex Ferguson, Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, a few of the United boys,” said McIlroy. “To have their support and for them to reach out to you and say congratulations, yeah, it is pretty surreal. Watching Manchester United for so many years, and then having Alex Ferguson send you a text message or Wayne Rooney or whatever. It’s a nice position to be in.

“Greg Norman also left me a voicemail and a message. He said some very complimentary things. He left me a voicemail after the Matchplay, as well, last week. I didn’t get a chance to catch up with him, but that was very nice of him to reach out.  There was a lot. It’s nice people congratulate you and give their words of support and encouragement.”

RORY TAKES ON MARIA SHARAPOVA AT TENNIS IN NEW YORK…

 

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Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered

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