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At my best, I'm untouchable - McIlroy

Rory McIlroy wants to learn how to win ugly © Getty Images

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US Open winner Rory McIlroy believes that no-one in golf can match him when he performs at his peak.

McIlroy threatened to run away with the Masters before imploding across his final round, then stormed to a maiden major title at Congressional, triumphing by eight shots.

And although he is still behind Lee Westwood and Luke Donald in the world rankings, McIlroy knows his top level cannot be matched. However, he is concerned by a lack of career wins - just three as a pro - despite a hatful of top-ten finishes.

"When I'm 100 per cent, I won the US Open by eight shots, was six shots clear in the final round in Dubai and, after being on the cut line, shot 16-under at the weekend to win Quail Hollow by four," McIlroy told the Telegraph. "So when you're on, you feel untouchable. I'd take it if this happened to me four or five times a year.

"But it's being able to win when you're not playing your best; that's the secret I want to find. Turning those second, third and fourth placed finishes, when I'm not playing my best, into wins is basically what I'm trying to do now."

The Ulsterman admits that he has been forced to change his approach to the sport, having emerged as a celebrity following the US Open win and the start of his romance with tennis world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki.

"I just think from the incredible low of Augusta to the incredible high of Congressional and everything that's happened since, that it's probably going to be the defining year of my career," McIlroy said.

"I think it has to change you. You do have to get harder as a person and I've noticed that a little bit about myself already. The Open was an eye-opener for me because I'd never really received that amount of attention before. You obviously want to try to be as open and honest as you possibly can but with so much attention on you it's hard. You have to put a little bit of a shield up."

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