Seven of the world's top 10, including numbers one and two Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy, are in head-to-head combat at Muirfield Village in Ohio this week for the Memorial Tournament.

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.

Home favourite looks poised to pose in fourth Green Jacket after young pretender finds demons chasing him around the National course again

More than anything, it was like a funeral. There were more sighs than conversation and when the convention of the first tee dictated applause, it was subdued enough to be over almost as soon as it began.

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.

Believers say it's the old Woods and he's ready to win again. Doubters say new swing guru will fail to paper over cracks

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

If Rory McIlroy brought a single demon back here to where, this time last year, some feared his career might have been destroyed before it truly began, all the evidence is that the little blighter did not make it through US Customs.

22-year-old unfazed by last year's failure and feels he's ready to challenge for Green Jacket

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.

For the first time we have the three best golfers in the world. But can one of them end a 16-year British drought at the Masters and hold off a resurgent Woods?