GOLF:HOW DO you evolve into a cult hero? In Rory McIlroy's case, the infamy of a succession of snap hooks, dodgy approach shots and missed putts which bedevilled his last competitive round here at Augusta National Golf Club elevated him on to the most wanted list, alongside Tiger Woods, heading into the 76th edition of the Masters tournament.

A year on from his meltdown, with his mettle proven and talent confirmed with his lifting the US Open title, McIlroy yesterday decided the old proverb about laughter being the best medicine was probably the appropriate elixir on his return to the scene of the crime.

Indeed, as if on cue during his press conference, the world number two was responding to a question about the 10th hole when his mobile phone beeped. “We didn’t hear anything,” said Augusta National’s Ronald Townsend, aware that there is a ban on phones in the facility.

McIlroy, laughing and deftly turning off the device, stayed on course with a swift apology for the intrusion, a laugh, and let us all know he had moved on from that shot which was the catalyst for a horror show on his back nine.

Last week, McIlroy returned here for a couple of practice rounds to prepare but also to exorcise any lingering demons.

When he got to the 10th tee of that first practice round since, he hit a number of different tee shots: some with a three-wood, his weapon of choice on that fateful day; and some with a driver. But McIlroy didn’t venture over to the cabins where his ball, having ricocheted off a tree branch, came to rest. “I just had a quick glance on the way past walking down the middle of the fairway. Hopefully, I’ll do the same thing during this week.”

In fact, where that ball came to rest – between the cabins to the left of the 10th fairway – has become the most frequently asked question of caddies in the past year, who’ve been repeatedly requested to point out the exact spot where McIlroy’s bid for glory started to unravel.

This time, McIlroy has returned as a different player. “One of the things I learnt was that, as a person and as a golfer, I wasn’t ready to win the Masters. I wasn’t ready to win a Major . . . the big thing was that it was a big learning curve, a learning experience, and I took a lot from it and was able to put some of the things into practice very quickly and that’s what resulted in winning the US Open a couple months later.

“I’ve come back here the same person but with a different attitude. I think that’s probably the big difference. I mean, you still have to have fun out there. It’s not all business, you want to try and have a little bit of fun. I came in here last year hoping to do well and maybe to have a chance to win or whatever. This year, I’m coming in with the attitude that I want to win. I want to put myself into contention.”

Of his ability to get over that upset so quickly, McIlroy observed: “As golfers, we lose more than we win. We only win a couple of times (a season) and every other time we are not lifting a trophy. It’s not a failure, but you don’t win. So you get used to disappointments. It wasn’t the end of the world. It’s only golf. It’s not like anyone died out there.”

The main change, in McIlroy’s eyes, is his mental maturity. As he put it yesterday, “If I get myself in position again, I’ll be able to approach it a lot better. Really, the way I approached it (last year) was out of character for me and I realised I just needed to try and be myself a little bit more. That was something I put into practice at the US Open (at Congressional).”

McIlroy, who is paired with Bubba Watson and Angel Cabrera – the latter having accompanied him in last year’s final round – for the first two rounds, also admitted the work on putting he has done with Dave Stockton has improved that area of his game.

He’s back. And the eyes of the golfing world are on him. What’s more, he’s comfortable with that.

Game on!

United front: It's no two-horse race

LUKE Donald and Lee Westwood, the two players who have dominated the world number one rankings for the best part of a year but who have yet to win any Major titles, are united in pointing out that this year's Masters shouldn't be the Rory v Tiger show.

"Everyone wants to make that kind of rivalry and obviously those two guys [McIlroy and Woods] garner the most attention. I think it's a little naive to say they are the only two that have a chance to win around here," said Donald, the current world number one.

Westwood – who finished runner-up to Phil Mickelson in the 2010 Masters – was also critical of those purporting that this year's tournament was likely to be a duel between McIlroy and Woods.

"Rory has never won here, [and] Tiger's not won here since 2005 . . . [you] would have to be naive to think it was a two-horse race. I think Phil [Mickelson] might have a little bit of something to say about that. Luke might. I might."

In emphasising it was far from a two-man affair, Westwood added: "In theory, everybody can win, couldn't they? But you can narrow it down to 30 people, probably, whose games are suited. Some people are not going to be long enough here. Some people won't be on their game this week. So you could probably pick 30 guys, I'd say."

Donald's best finish in a Masters came on his debut – in 2005 – when he was third. He finished fourth last year. Westwood's best Masters appearance was runner-up to Mickelson in 2010, one of two top-10 finishes he has had in 12 previous appearances.

– Philip Reid