Two words said it all as golf's new World Number One Rory McIlroy flew from Florida to New York to celebrate with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki.
"Exciting times," said the 22 year old after becoming the second youngest player to top the Official World Golf Ranking since it began in 1986.
Indeed they are. McIlroy was invited by Wozniacki to join the Dane on court at Madison Square Gardens during her exhibition match against Maria Sharapova, showing off his tennis skills the day after becoming the leading golfer on the planet.
He later tweeted: “Never thought I'd play tennis at Madison Square Garden! Had a great time watching Caroline and Maria out there! I even won a point.”
On the course, the future looks even more exciting for McIlroy, who will return to Florida to play in this week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral Golf Resort & Spa. With his return to The Masters Tournament only a month away it is not just ending Luke Donald's nine-month reign which has Northern Ireland's US Open champion licking his lips.
It is also the fact he won after Tiger Woods applied the pressure with a birdie-eagle finish for 62, the lowest final round of his career. Not only that, there was also Lee Westwood's closing 63, his lowest-ever round in America. .
"I think it's fantastic for the game," said McIlroy, who in an incredible run has only once finished outside the top five in 12 tournaments since the USPGA Championship last August.
"I think everyone is excited for Augusta to roll around. I definitely know I am. I'm looking forward to getting back there and giving it another shot."
Everybody has known for a long time how well McIlroy can hit the ball, but what his third victory in America proved is how much he has improved his short game and his nerve.
In last week’s Honda Classic on the US PGA Tour he did not miss once from inside 10 feet on the final day, made a brilliant par save from deep rough on the 14th and twice got up and down from bunkers in the last four holes.
"I feel like I've always believed in my ability, it's just doing it at the right times," he said.
"I'm getting better at knowing what I need to do when I get into contention. That just comes with experience. I definitely don't doubt myself as much as I used to.
"Obviously you try to forget the bad experiences and remember the good ones. It gives me a little bit of confidence knowing if I get myself in that position again that I'm able to finish the job off.
"It was always a dream of mine to become the World Number One, but I didn't know that I would be able to get here this quickly."
Compatriot Graeme McDowell, McIlroy's stablemate, Ryder Cup partner and predecessor as US Open champion, said: "This golf season just got a lot more spicy.
"Obviously Tiger is back doing only outrageous things that Tiger can do, but Rory is the best player I've ever seen. It's pretty scary to see what he can do with a golf ball.
"As soon as he learned how to putt he was going to be a dominating force, and you're starting to see that now.
That was the missing link, according to McDowell.
"He was not a stand-out closer two years ago because he didn't have the putting ability. Now he has.”
