World No 1 backs himself to beat anyone when 'on' as Englishman learns to deal with PGA pressure

Brutal course leaves big-name players hurting but one man could be set to replace Woods as an American hero

Rory McIlroy said his decision to skip the Players Championship last year “was not one of my brightest”. It turns out it may have been one of his smartest. His record at Sawgrass is now played three, lost three after completing his hat-trick of missed cuts.

With apologies to Mr Shakespeare, all the world's a stage and we are merely at The Players – not the fifth major, as the PGA Tour would have the world believe, but nevertheless an elite championship in Florida with a $9.5m (£6m) purse and a first prize of $1.71m.

America's courtship of Rory McIlroy, which began with a hug after his Sunday 80 last year, is now a full-on love affair. The 22-year-old from Holywood signed for a second-round 69, three under par, that took him to four under for the tournament, and had the galleries cheering his name as he climbed the hill to the clubhouse.

The talk is all of Tiger and Rory but don't forget Mickelson in what promises to be a birdie-fest

We should enjoy the beauty of the course and the quality of the action that is expected

Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy and Lee Westwood fill the top three spots on the world rankings going into The Masters - and any one of them could be number one at the end of the week.

McIlroy's talent against Woods' experience: a classic showdown in store for the Masters showdown

You have to believe in your ability to win – not so easy against Tiger on the last day

Perhaps it says much about the ever-growing fame of Rory McIlroy that last year he brought three friends from home as his Masters guests – and this year he has invited Ant and Dec. When the Geordie presenters arrive at the Augusta National they will find their friend talking up the chances of Tiger Woods.

With a first major in the bag and the world number one box now ticked as well, Rory McIlroy will try to show this week that golf really has entered a new era.

Great Britain and Ireland should rightfully feel on top of the golfing world when the first three players in the rankings tee off here together tomorrow. Who would ever have thought that a 22-year-old from Ulster would be the No 1 and that his nearest pursuers would be two thirtysomethings from England? Or that everyone would be feeling positive about Tiger Woods, down there at No 16?

Phil Mickelson went from a six-shot deficit to a two-shot lead in just six holes, closed with an eight-under 64 for a two-shot victory and gave Tiger Woods a thrashing at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am yesterday that not many saw coming.