(CNN) -- After finishing tied for 40th at the Masters in April, Rory McIlroy might have been expected to throw himself into a punishing training regime.
After all, golf's U.S. Open champion was one of the tipsters' favorites to take the title in Augusta. But the 22-year-old Northern Irishman, so often hyped as the next Tiger Woods, failed to erase memories of his nightmare collapse at the same tournament 12 months previously.
But McIlroy didn't brood. He didn't even pick up a club. Instead the world No. 2 flew to Europe for a vacation with his girlfriend, Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki.
They holidayed in Copenhagen and Nice. And even flew to Belfast to watch Ulster's rugby team take on Leinster. Somehow they found the time to meet Britain's Queen Elizabeth at a horse racing event.
Wells Fargo Championship leaderboard
Rory McIlroy has risen to the top of golf's world rankings after winning the Honda Classic in Florida on Sunday. It caps a remarkable rise for the 22-year-old Northern Irishman in recent years. Here he is as a 14-year-old playing at the Boys Home Internationals at the Royal St David's Golf Club in Wales in August 2003.
Top of the world: The rise and rise of Rory
Luke Donald never recovered from an opening round of four-over 75 at Harbour Town Golf Links.
McIlroy reclaims top ranking from Donald
Bubba Watson receives the green jacket from 2011 winner Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.
Bubba Watson wins Masters after playoff at Augusa
It seems the green was the last thing on McIlroy's mind since that disappointing Masters performance. But now, as he returns to the PGA Tour for this week's Wells Fargo Championship -- a tournament he won in 2010 -- McIlroy says taking time out will be the key to his success.
"I don't want to be burned out by the time I'm 30. I want to try to prolong my career as much as I can. I sometimes take a little bit too much out of myself, especially at the end of the season," he said on the PGA Tour website.
"I'm trying to find the perfect balance between golf and having a normal life and everything else. For me there's more to life than just golf. I don't know if people are surprised to hear that, but I have a lot more going on in my life than just golf."
McIlroy has reason to be confident at Quail Hollow. It was here that he won his first PGA Tour title two years ago, shooting 62 in the final round to set a new course record. He also became the first player since Woods to win a PGA Tour event before his 21st birthday.
"It's always nice to come back to somewhere where you've had success," he said.
"I've got great memories of this course and of this tournament from 2010. I've played some great golf here and played not so great golf here last year. But I'm looking forward just to get back out on the course."
Wells Fargo is the first of four tournaments McIlroy will play before launching his U.S. Open title defense in June. He has drastically cut back his schedule to 23 starts this year -- seven less than 2011. But as he argues, it's all part of the game plan.
"Basically the most important time for me in the golf season is from the start of April until the end of August. That's when all the big tournaments are and that's when you want to play your best golf," he said.
"All the stuff either side of that is more preparation work and making sure that your game is getting ready and your body is physically ready for that time of the year.
"I know I've been criticized a little bit for not playing as much as some other guys leading into these few weeks, but I know I've got a big stretch coming up, and I want to be as fresh as possible for this."
Loading weather data ...
© 2013 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
McIlroy got into the winning habit early, finishing top in the Under-15 boys competition of Nick Faldo's junior golf series in 2004. The following year he would shoot a course record 61 at the Dunluce links at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland. His astonishing eleven-under par total included nine birdies and an eagle.
McIlroy finishes as low amateur at the 2007 Open Championship held at Carnoustie, Scotland.
Look behind you! Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2007 where the Northen Irishman finished third to mark his arrival in the professional ranks.
A dejected McIlroy reflects on a missed putt during a playoff at the 2008 Omega Masters in Switzerland. The 19-year-old narrowly missed out on his first European Tour win losing out to Jean-Francois Lucquin from France.
Three months before his 20th birthday, McIlroy claimed his first European Tour title winning the Dubai Desert Classic in February 2009, beating England's Justin Rose by a single shot.
McIlroy claimed his first PGA Tour victory at the Quail Hollow Championship thanks to a stunning final round of 62 in May 2010.
His debut in the Ryder Cup was equally successful as Europe beat the U.S. team at Celtic Manor Resort, Wales in October 2010. His paring with fellow countryman Graeme McDowell was one of the highlights of the match.
McIlroy celebrates Europe's win (by one point) over the U.S. team with teammate Padraig Harrington (left) and vice-captain, Spain's Sergio Garcia.
Masters disaster. McIlroy chips out from the trees on the 10th hole during the final round of the 2011 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club. He sqaundered a four-shot lead in the final round to eventually finish in a tie for 15th.
Major winner: McIlroy bounced back from his Masters collapse in amazing fashion winning the U.S. Open in a record low aggregate score of 268.
Top of the world: McIlroy's victory at the Honda Classic has seen him replace England's Luke Donald at the top of the world rankings.
Rory McIlroy replaced Donald as No. 1 despite a disappointing showing at the Masters in his last tournament. He spent this week with his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki in Copenhagen.
Carl Pettersson of Sweden won the RBC Heritage by five shots from Zach Johnson for his fifth PGA Tour title.
Bubba Watson made his move with four straight birdies on the back nine.
Louis Oosthuizen celebrates his double eagle from the second fairway in the final round of the Masters at Augusta National.
Phil Mickelson watches his shot from the rough at the fourth on the way to a triple bogey.
Tiger Woods continued to struggle in the final round with a two-over-par 74 to finish five-over.
|