He's the world No 1 and he could complete the career Grand Slam this week but Rory McIlroy's pre-Masters press conference was as low key as the reference section of a library.

He had a tough act to follow, mind you. Tiger Woods had been holding court immediately before him and the empty seats that greeted McIlroy showed that vast sections of the media were in a complete tizzy over Tiger. "Tiger making his comeback at the Masters is such a big story so you guys can write the stories and I won't read them," said McIlroy, with a ringing endorsement of the written press. Even with a luminous yellow t-shirt that made it look like he had been involved in a toxic spillage and the revelation that he will have a warbling member of pop band One Direction on his bag for today's Par-3 contest, McIlroy had been shunted out of the spotlight by Woods. The young Northern Irishman won't mind the hype being diverted away from him, of course, and he's happy to see the former world no 1 back in business from a golfing point of view. "Was I concerned for him? Not really," said McIlroy of Woods's numerous trials and tribulations. "I mean, it's hard to be concerned for someone who has won 14 majors and earned over a billion dollars. I don't think you can underestimate him, though."

In this selfish, cut-throat business, McIlroy, the reigning Open and US PGA champion, is here to do a job and he's determined to do it. "I'm just ready for the gun to go off," he added.

His preparation has been quiet and considered and McIlroy is well aware of the improvements he needs to make to bolster his assault on an historic green jacket. "If you look at the previous winners here, they all played the par-fives well," noted the 25-year-old as he mulled over those potentially profitable stretches. "Bubba (Watson) played them in eight-under last year. I played them in level-par and he beat me by eight shots. Sometimes, with my length off the tee, I get a bit too aggressive. On the last day last year I had a 9-iron in my hand on 13 and 15 and still walked away with two sixes. Maybe I've been thinking about getting the eagle too much instead of realising that a four is still a good result."

The prospect of a career Grand Slam lies seductively on the horizon but McIlroy is not consumed by thoughts of what the future could hold. As every golfer knows - yes, even we crude amateurs - the moment you start getting ahead of yourself, the wheels can come off. "Of course your mind wanders to winning tournaments and thinking about what it would be like but it doesn't wander beyond that," McIlroy said. "It's been the same every time I've won a major. I then focus on the next one and if I do win another the focus will again be on the next one. It's important to stay in the moment. Golf is a fickle game and you don't take anything for granted. We've seen in the past what this game can do to people. You can be at the top of your game one minute, the next minute you struggle. So you just try and work as hard as you can to achieve the goals that you set and if you do achieve them, then you set more and go for them."

Having played a practice round with Blairgowrie teenager Bradley Neil, McIlroy gave a glowing report of the 19-year-old Scot. The professional game beckons for the reigning Amateur champion and McIlroy is optimistic about his hopes of gaining a strong foothold. "I rate his game very highly," said McIlroy who made the pro plunge at the age of 18. "It's right there and if he feels ready he should go ahead and do it. He hits it a long way and he doesn't seem to be in awe of anything. I could see him one day coming over here and doing well on the PGA Tour. He has the style of game that would suit playing over here."

McIlroy has the weight of expectation on his young shoulders this week but he tried his best to lighten the load. "I think Bubba is the main guy this week," he said of the defending champion. "He's won two of the last three and has the perfect game for this course. Not that I'm trying to put any pressure on him or anything."

The pressure is mounting.